After three family members died from eating the traditional home-made cake, the body of the baker’s dead husband who died of food poisoning early this year will be exhume
Three women tragically lost their lives, and three others fell ill after consuming a cake at a family gathering.
The horrifying incident occurred on December 23 in Brazil, with police initially withholding the victims’ identities. However, they have now been named and pictured locally as Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, who sadly passed away on the same day after eating the dessert. Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was rushed to hospital in critical condition and tragically succumbed to her illness the next day.
Three other family members, including a 10-year-old, also fell ill after tucking into the cake. It is believed that Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently hospitalised, baked the cake. A photo of the cake reveals it to be Bolo de Natal – a traditional Brazilian Christmas cake.
The seven family members had gathered at Zeli’s home to enjoy the cake, with only one person refraining from eating it. The Civil Police are now awaiting test results to determine what could have caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso heading up the investigation, reports the Mirror.
Zeli, who reportedly ate two slices of the cake, was the first to be rushed to hospital after falling severely ill. She has since provided authorities with information about when and where the ingredients for the cake were purchased.
Police have launched a fresh investigation, leading to the exhumation of Zeli’s late husband’s body. His death in September from food poisoning is now under scrutiny. Once Zeli is released from hospital, she will face further questioning, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Local residents in Torres, where Zeli lived, will also be interviewed. However, Veloso has said that there are no records of inheritance disputes or family feuds.
According to Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, both Tatiana and Maida died due to cardiac arrest.
Neuza’s cause of death has been revealed as “shock after food poisoning”. Sisters Maida, Neuza and Zeli, along with Neuza’s daughter Tatiana, were all affected.
Zeli and an unnamed 10-year-old boy remain in hospital in stable condition. Another family member, believed to be Maida’s husband, has been discharged from hospital.
The police probe includes an examination of the family’s food and other household items, many of which were found to be expired. A police statement, as reported by globo.com, said: “We even have information that there was mayonnaise there that had expired a year ago.”
“Expired products were found in the residence. A bottle was discovered, a medicine, which should have contained capsules inside it but instead held a white liquid – this white liquid will also be examined.”