This is the first picture of the only party goer who did not eat an ‘arsenic-laced’ Christmas cake made by his sister-in-law that left three of her family dead.
Joao Silva Dos Anjos was among seven people who attended the traditional meal on December 23 at which Zeli Dos Anjos, 61, regularly makes the festive treat.
But within hours of tucking in, her sisters Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58, and Neuza Denize Dos Anjos, 65 and Neuza’s daughter Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43, were all dead – and authorities revealed traces of deadly arsenic were found in their bodies.
Zeli and her 10-year-old great nephew Mateus were also taken ill and rushed to hospital in Torres near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil where they are in a stable condition.
Zeli’s brother-in-law Joao and her late husband Paolo are brothers who married two sisters.
Joao was married to Zeli’s sister Neuza, who died in the tragedy along with their daughter Tatiana.
In a mysterious twist, Paolo, a fisherman, died from suspected food poisoning in September – and authorities in Brazil have made an official request to remove his remains from his final resting place so they can now be examined.
On Monday, family sources told MailOnline they believed the incident was ‘simply a tragic accident’ while police have insisted, they have ‘not ruled anything out’ and are awaiting further forensic tests.
Joao Silva Dos Anjos (left) was among seven people who attended the traditional meal on December 23 at which Zeli Dos Anjos, 61, regularly makes the festive treat
Pictured: The Christmas cake that was consumed by guests on December 23
Zeli dos Anjos (pictured) prepared the traditional ‘Bolo de Natal’ festive treat for a family afternoon coffee
Joao was married to Zeli’s sister Neuza (right), who died in the tragedy along with their daughter Tatiana
They have also spoken to several members of the extended family who all live in and around the city of Torres and two hours away ay Canoas, a suburb of Porto Alegre and where the three women were buried.
Their ceremonies were held on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Paulo is also buried at the same Sao Vincent cemetery and his body is expected to be exhumed early next month after judicial permission has been obtained.
Investigating officer Marcus Vinicus Velhoso spoke to MailOnline from his office in Torres and said:’ At the moment we are not excluding any theories, and all possibilities are being explored.
‘We are waiting for test results to come back from the forensic lab and we are gathering statements from all the people who were at the party and also from extended family members.
‘Those that attended and survived are very upset, three of their family have died and it’s been very emotional for all of them, and we have also spoken to their relatives and searched houses owned by the baker and where the party was held.’
The event – which a family source said is a ‘traditional pre-Christmas get together’ – took place at Maida’s apartment in Torres where she lives with her husband Jefferson early in the evening of December 23.
Jefferson was the only other family member present. He took a couple of nibbles of the cake before he began to feel unwell. Joao didn’t touch it because doesn’t like cake, said police.
A picture found on Zeli’s social media by MailOnline shows a similar white icing covered fruit cake, topped with cherries which she baked in 2021 and gathered with her are husband Paulo and other relatives.
In a mysterious twist, Paolo (pictured), a fisherman, died from suspected food poisoning in September – and authorities in Brazil have made an official request to remove his remains from his final resting place so they can now be examined
Their ceremonies were held on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Paulo is also buried at the same Sao Vincent cemetery (his grave is pictured on the right) and his body is expected to be exhumed early next month after judicial permission has been obtained
A picture found on Zeli’s social media by MailOnline shows a similar white icing covered fruit cake, topped with cherries which she baked in 2021 and gathered with her are husband Paulo (right, next to his wife) and other relatives
Zeli and her 10-year-old great nephew Mateus were also taken ill and rushed to hospital in Torres near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil where they are in a stable condition
Joao (pictured with his wife Neuza) didn’t touch it because doesn’t like cake, said police
Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, pictured, died after having the traditional cake on December 23
This is the apartment block where the family had their event and ate the Christmas cake
Mr Velhoso said: ‘Neuza’s husband Joao did not eat the cake, he has told us he doesn’t eat cakes, but we know that Zeli had two slices.
‘The other women also ate the cake as did the little boy. The event was at Maida’s home and her husband Jefferson had a small bit of cake but told us he immediately threw up.
‘Others there said the cake had a bitter, peppery taste and as soon as they said that they all stopped eating it – they had only had some so as not to offend the baker of the cake.
‘We were called at around 1am in the morning after everyone began to feel sick and ambulances were called to take them all to hospital and that’s where the three women sadly died.’
On Monday, a medical bulletin from the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes hospital in Torres, said that Zeli and Mateus were ‘out of intensive care and doing well but they would not be discharged for the time being’.
Mr Velhoso said that a search had been carried out at Zeli’s house in Arroio do Sal, around 40 minutes south of Torres, and a picture obtained by MailOnline shows forensic bags and cake ingredients on a table.
He added: ‘There was also a problem with her refrigerator which she reported last month, and we found several food items that were out of date and we also found pesticide and insect killer.
‘There was meat in the fridge which was rotten and some of the ingredients were out of date, and all this has been sent to the lab for examination and we are waiting for the results.
The graves of Tatiana Denize Silva dos Santos, 43 and Neuza Denise Silva dos Anjos, 65 in the Sao Vincente Cemetery in Porto Alegre, Brazil
It’s believed Zeli (right) ate two cake slices and was the first one to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill
This is Zeli’s house in Arroio do Sal where the Christma cake was prepared
Ingredients taken away from the house for forensic examination
On Saturday, chief Marcus Vinicius Veloso confirmed blood tests had found traces of arsenic in their bodies and the victims.
He added: ‘As we became aware of this fact, we opened an investigation, and we are going to exhume the body (Paulo Luiz) to check for traces of poison.’
A picture released by police showed around a quarter of the cake missing and Zeli told them she had eaten ‘two slices’ more than the others.
Mr Veloso added: ‘With the evidence so far collected, we do not know whether the poisoning was negligent or intentional.
‘So far, I have not been able to find any intentional conduct and we have been told that there was no animosity between the family members.
‘However, other evidence that comes to light may contradict what I think now. This is an investigation that requires great caution. We are working mainly by hearing from all the people who had contact with the family to understand this family life.
‘In short, the statements are that the family lived in harmony. This leads us to believe so far, that there was no malicious conduct.’
Hospital official said Tatiana and Maida suffered fatal heart attacks and Neuza died from ‘shock after food poisoning’.
Police Chief of the Civil Guard in charge of the investigation, Marcos Veloso, is pictured above
Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, pictured, was rushed to hospital in critical condition before dying
Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, pictured, died following having the Christmas cake on December 23
Tributes have since been paid to Maida, a teacher, hailed as ‘wonderful’ by friends
A family member who asked not to be named said: ‘No one can believe what’s happened, everyone is in mourning, it has really shocked the family.
‘We know the police have a job to do but there is nothing sinister about what happened, it’s just a sad accident that no one could have seen happening.
‘Zeli makes that cake every Christmas and everyone meets up to celebrate a few days before.’
Arsenic is a highly toxic substance, but police said that Zeli was currently ‘not a suspect’ in the current case or in her husband’s death.
In statement to MailOnline Brazil’s General Institute of Expertise (Crime Scene Investigators) said: ‘The examinations related to the occurrence registered last Monday (December 23), about the death of three people, after the consumption of a cake in Torres, are still ongoing.
‘The information about the presence of arsenic in the blood of the hospitalized victims is not official and was not released by us.
‘We emphasize that the production of scientific evidence is essential and depends on several complex analyses that are being conducted by our toxicology and forensic chemistry laboratories.
‘We maintain our commitment to transparency and to the complete clarification of the facts, always providing support to the authorities and families involved.’