Three dead after eating cake during Christmas

Police have arrested the daughter-in-law of a Brazilian woman in connection with a Christmas cake that led to the deaths of three family members.

The cake, a traditional "Bolo de Natal," was baked by 61-year-old Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos for a family gathering on December 23.

Family friends revealed that baking the cake and sharing it with loved ones was a cherished tradition. However, tragedy struck when seven relatives gathered, resulting in three fatalities and three others requiring medical treatment.

Zeli herself consumed two slices and was hospitalized alongside two other family members. Meanwhile, her sisters, Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, and Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos, 65, and her niece, Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, all tragically passed away.

The family consumed a homemade "Bolo de Natal," a traditional Brazilian Christmas cake. Tragically, Tatiana and Maida suffered cardiac arrests, while the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres hospital reported that Neuza succumbed to "shock after poisoning," according to the Independent.

The Mail stated that blood tests on those who ate the cake revealed traces of the toxic substance arsenic in some victims. However, the investigation is ongoing to confirm whether poisoning was intentional.

Authorities are conducting a detailed inquiry into the deaths and discovered several expired ingredients at Zeli’s residence, including a bottle of medicine.

Police disclosed: “We found a bottle of medicine that was supposed to contain capsules, but instead, it held a white liquid. This substance will undergo further examination.”

So far, investigators have found no evidence of family disputes over inheritance or any conflicts. The Christmas cake had been a long-standing holiday tradition for the family.

The woman who baked the cake consumed two slices herself and was the first to be hospitalized. She informed police that she had purchased some of the ingredients on the same day she prepared it.

Tests revealed traces of arsenic in Neuza’s body, as well as in two other individuals who survived after eating the cake.

Among those hospitalized was a 10-year-old boy, believed to be Tatiana’s son, whose identity has not been disclosed. Notably, one person at the family gathering did not consume any of the cake.

A friend shared with Globo News that the family "always, always, always made" the traditional Christmas cake, describing it as a cherished centerpiece of their holiday celebrations.