Daughter-in-law of woman who baked the Christmas cake that killed three people is ARRESTED ‘for murder and attempted murder’
The daughter-in-law of a woman who baked a Christmas cake that killed three of her relatives has been sensationally arrested by police on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Deise Moura was detained by police yesterday at the house she shares with her husband Diego.
Deise’s mother-in-law Zeli Dos Anjos made the traditional festive treat that killed both her two sisters and her niece during a family Christmas celebration in Torres near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil on December 23.
Zeli is still in hospital fighting for her life, while her two sisters Maida da Silva, 58, and Neuza Dos Anjos, 65, both died along with Neuza’s daughter Tatiana Dos Santos, 43.
Other family members affected included Zeli’s 10-year-old grandnephew.
Maida’s husband Jefferson tried the cake and immediately became ill. Neuza’s husband Joao did not eat the treat because he does not like cake.
Just days ago, MailOnline revealed that Zeli’s husband Paulo, 68, died in September of food poisoning after eating a banana that was contaminated.
The dramatic development was shared exclusively with MailOnline by Torres’ police chief, who said Deise was arrested late on Sunday at her home in Nova Santa Rita.
Deise Moura (photo) is the daughter-in-law of Zeli Dos Anjos who made the Christmas cake in Brazil that killed three members of her family. Deise is married to Zeli’s son Diego. She was arrested at her home on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, police in Brazil said
Zeli dos Anjos (photo) prepared the traditional festive treat ‘Bolo de Natal’ for a coffee afternoon with the whole family
In the photo: the Christmas cake that was consumed by the guests on December 23
Marcus Vinicius Veloso said: “The woman was arrested for triple murder and triple attempted murder.
“She was first taken to a police station in Canoas, then to the Torres police station and is now in the women’s prison in the city, at this time we cannot say anything else.”
Last week, police said they are “not aware of any disputes within the family” but are open to hearing the results of laboratory tests coming in each day.
Preliminary reports indicated that arsenic had been found in the blood of the victims.
The group of seven at the Christmas party complained that the cake Zeli baked tasted “bitter and peppery” within minutes. They were all vomiting and a fleet of ambulances was called to take them to hospital.
The woman was arrested for triple murder and triple attempted murder
She was first taken to a police station in Canoas, then to the Torres police station and is now in the city’s women’s prison.
The mother of one was arrested late Sunday at her home in Nova Santa Rita
10-year-old Matheus Marques da Silva survived eating the poisoned cake with Father Leonir Alves in hospital in Torres, Brazil
Several members of the family died after eating the cake
Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was rushed to hospital in critical condition before dying the next day
Maida, a retired teacher, was the first to die on Christmas Eve, while her sister Neuza died a few hours later, followed by Neuza’s daughter Tatiana.
Just days ago, a relative told MailOnline exclusively that she believed someone with a ‘grudge’ was responsible for attacking the family, describing the tragedy as ‘strange’.
When Isabel Moraes (54) was contacted by MailOnline for her reaction to the arrest, she said: ‘The whole family is shocked. We just don’t know what to say, someone so close to us, we could never have imagined that.’