Brazil -- Murder probe after 3 die from eating arsenic-laced Xmas cake. Baker's husband recently died of food poisoning. 23 Dec 2024.

[pukasonqo2]

Reminds me of the Leongatha mushroom poisoning here in Australia

 

[jjenny]

Presence of arsenic in a juice or fruit is a speculation. I haven't seen anything about them knowing the actual source of arsenic.

 

[iamshadow21]

Hard for me to believe that a juice can naturally build up a large amount of arsenic. Or this sort of thing would be happening all the time.

Yeah, like I've said, I think that anything strong enough to make the cake taste "peppery" (arsenic burns the mouth) is highly likely to be from a large amount of it being present. I sincerely doubt that would be from the low level present in some foods, even food that is spoiled.

Whether by malice or accident, I think this arsenic came from a product containing arsenic. Rat poison, or some other chemical from industry are far more likely than dried fruit. IMO, the currants are only going to be the culprit if they were, for example, marinating in arsenic along with the brandy before the cake was baked.

MOO

 

[jjenny]

I wonder as to what the hubby died from? I am surprised that food poisoning death was just considered "natural" without even apparently trying to identify the source of poisoning.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Now MailOnline can reveal that there were two cakes baked for the party - and the family could have been spared if they had chosen to cut the second, safe cake instead of the one that turned out to be poisoned with arsenic.

Other revelations, revealed by a member of the tragic family who spoke for the first time included how:

• The family believe the killer cake could have been poisoned by an outsider who had a deadly grudge

• The poison took effect so quickly that guests began writhing in agony within minutes of tasting the cake

• Mrs Anjos is now 'horrified by guilt' as she remains in critical condition in hospital - and the family fear for her recovery

• Previously unconfirmed suggestions that a member of the wider family had died last year from eating poisoned bananas are true

Mistake that led to three people killed by poisoned cake revealed

Zeli Silva Dos Anjos , 61, who baked the traditional Brazilian festive treat, was among seven people who attended a pre Christmas annual party on December 23 - but only four survived.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A tragic incident in Brazil has drawn attention after a 10-year-old boy wrote a heartfelt letter asking for prayers following a family tragedy linked to a contaminated cake. The boy, hospitalized after consuming the cake, lost his mother and grandmother to what is suspected to be arsenic poisoning. How can such a devastating event impact a community and its faith?

Fast Answer: A 10-year-old boy from Brazil wrote a touching letter asking for prayers after losing family members due to a contaminated cake. The incident highlights the dangers of food safety and the importance of community support during tragic times

Brave Child Writes Heartfelt Letter Asking for Prayers After Eating Arsenic-Laced Cake - Faharas News

A 10-year-old boy wrote a heartfelt letter asking for prayers after losing family members to arsenic-contaminated cake. Read about this tragic incident.

news.faharas.net

 

[Officer Dibble]

Don't most cake bakers habitually lick the spoon or scrape out the bowl and lick the spoon before baking? (you can tell im not a cake baker). Would have been ill then if so. Or was the cake injected as xmas cake steeps for weeks after baking and has alcohol poured over it regularly. Maybe it was in the alcohol? Put there by whom though.

Agree its a bit eye opening with the husbands death

 

[Chimera]

Reminds me of the Leongatha mushroom poisoning here in Australia

Agreed, I was just thinking about Erin Patterson when I read the article in msm :

Brazil police probe deadly, arsenic-laced Christmas cake that killed 3

The woman who baked the cake, along with a 10-year-old child who also ate the cake, remain in the hospital and are receiving treatment for poisoning.

www.cbsnews.com

So far, no charges have been laid and police have not said whether it was being treated as a murder case.

Reports said the woman who made the cake got along well with the other members of the family, and there was no early indication of a dispute.
According to local media, police requested for the body of the late husband of the woman who made the cake to be exhumed. He died in September from food poisoning, and his death was deemed natural at the time by police, BBC reported.
Rbm.

My first theory is that there was a terrible accident.
But then there's her husband who died previously of food poisoning, so ....
Waiting to see how this investigation plays out.
Poison is a preferred weapon for women, according to some true crime podcasts I've listened to.
Omo.

 

[iamshadow21]

Don't most cake bakers habitually lick the spoon or scrape out the bowl and lick the spoon before baking? (you can tell im not a cake baker). Would have been ill then if so. Or was the cake injected as xmas cake steeps for weeks after baking and has alcohol poured over it regularly. Maybe it was in the alcohol? Put there by whom though.

Agree its a bit eye opening with the husbands death

Not everyone licks the spoon, though I would say most do.

And yes, you feed a fruit cake brandy or some similar spirit regularly, sometimes for months, before you cut and eat it. All you'd need is opportunity, time alone with the cake to doctor it.

MOI

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Not everyone licks the spoon, though I would say most do.

I must be one of the few that don't.

 

[Kemug]

Hopefully it won't take too long to discover what really killed the husband. And the bottle of white liquid - surely they've tested that by now? Once we know the facts about those two things, the situation will be a bit clearer.

 

[Kemug]

So where would someone get arsenic in Brazil? A pharmacy (skin whitener)? Hardware store (pesticide)? Online? I would think it would be traceable.
BTW, not arsenic, but mercury - the murder of Thomas Woolcock led to the execution of his wife, the last woman to be hanged in South Australia. And my great grandfather sold her the mercury. At much the same time his first cousin in London, also a chemist, sold the poison in another murder case. So maybe very common in the 1800's to get stuff from a chemist? - or do I just have dumb/dodgy ancestors? Could someone with a good knowledge of chemistry concoct it themselves? So many questions, so few answers - for now.

 

[Montrealaise]

Breaking news: the daughter-in-law of the woman who baked the cake has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14252977/christmas-cake-killed-arrested-daughter-law-woman-murder-attempted.html#newcomment

 

[Montrealaise]

Yeah, like I've said, I think that anything strong enough to make the cake taste "peppery" (arsenic burns the mouth) is highly likely to be from a large amount of it being present. I sincerely doubt that would be from the low level present in some foods, even food that is spoiled.

Whether by malice or accident, I think this arsenic came from a product containing arsenic. Rat poison, or some other chemical from industry are far more likely than dried fruit. IMO, the currants are only going to be the culprit if they were, for example, marinating in arsenic along with the brandy before the cake was baked.

MOO

Arsenic does have a bitter taste. A California man whose wife poisoned him by putting arsenic into his morning coffee told police that when he complained about the taste, she told him it was espresso.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

If true it just goes to show that the one who prepared the meal is not always automatically guilty.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Why are all images I've seen of the cake partly pixelated out, mostly on top of the cake.

Were there some words on the cake that LE doesn't want shown.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Breaking news: the daughter-in-law of the woman who baked the cake has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14252977/christmas-cake-killed-arrested-daughter-law-woman-murder-attempted.html#newcomment

Such a twisted development in this case IMO. And what a cruel individual if proven as now suspected.

In the article in post #25 above from @imstilla.grandma … there was mention of two cakes baked for the party. Will be interested in how that factors into this. And also the earlier matter of the baker’s deceased husband. MOO

 

[Vaderman]

I'm surprised there was a n arrest. I thought this one was gonna turn out to be an accident.

I know this isn't a laughing matter, but this is totally me:

The only guest not to suffer any ill effects was Neuza's husband Joao who doesn't eat cake

Mistake that led to three people killed by poisoned cake revealed

Zeli Silva Dos Anjos , 61, who baked the traditional Brazilian festive treat, was among seven people who attended a pre Christmas annual party on December 23 - but only four survived.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I notoriously refuse all sweets/cakes.

 

[sunspun]

Very curious to hear about motive in this case! What could it possibly be??

 

[iamshadow21]

Very curious to hear about motive in this case! What could it possibly be??

Arsenic was known as the inheritance powder. I'm betting good old fashioned greed and malice.

MOO