Pictured: Grave of husband who ‘died of food poisoning’ six months before wife baked ‘arsenic-infused’ Christmas cake that killed three of her relatives – as police prepare to exhume remains

This is the grave of the man who died of food poisoning six months before his wife baked an ‘arsenic-laced’ Christmas cake that killed three of her relatives.

Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, made the traditional Christmas treat for her family on December 23.

But within hours of being tucked in, her sisters Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58, and Neuza Denize Silva Dos Anjos, 65, and Neuza’s daughter Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43, were all dead – and detectives revealed there were traces of deadly arsenic had been found in their bodies.

Zeli, who ate two slices of the deadly cake, and her 10-year-old grandnephew also fell ill and were rushed to hospital in Torres near Porto Alegre in southern Brazil. Now the police are going to exhume the remains of her husband Paulo Luiz. part of the research.

Paulo died in September of suspected food poisoning and now authorities have made an official request to remove his remains from his resting place so they can be examined.

Paulo will be buried at Sao Vincent Cemetery in the Porto Alegre suburb of Canoas, where his wife’s sisters and her niece were buried on Christmas Day and Boxing Day after their bodies were released by authorities.

Denise Teixeira Gomes, a friend of teacher Maida who attended the funeral, said: ‘She was a happy, cheerful woman who lived life to the full, and whenever she could she would travel.’

Police have already questioned 15 members of the family, and they have also searched Zeli’s home in nearby Arroio do Sal and are understood to be examining CCTV footage of her buying ingredients at a local supermarket.

The graves of Tatiana Denize Silva dos Santos, 43 and Neuza Denise Silva dos Anjos, 65 at the Sao Vincente Cemetery in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Paulo Luiz (pictured) died in September of suspected food poisoning and now authorities have made an official request to remove his remains from his resting place so they can be examined

It was reported that “expired food products, including mayonnaise” were found in Zeli’s home during police investigations.

She and her second cousin are currently at Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes Hospital in Torres, where they are “clinically stable” according to the latest medical bulletin.

On Saturday, Chief Marcus Vinicius Veloso confirmed that blood tests had found traces of arsenic in their bodies and the victims.

He added: ‘When we became aware of this, we opened an investigation and are going to exhume (Paulo Luiz’s) body to check for traces of poison.’

A photo released by police showed about a quarter of the cake — fruit filled with white icing and topped with cherries that were missing — and Zeli told them she had eaten “two slices more than the other.”

Of the seven people who attended the meal, one man did not eat the cake and suffered no ill effects.

Officer Veloso added, “With the evidence gathered thus far, we do not know if the poisoning was negligent or intentional.

‘So far I have not been able to detect any deliberate behavior and we are told that there was no animosity between the family members.

Zeli dos Anjos (pictured) prepared the traditional festive treat ‘Bolo de Natal’ for a family meal on December 23

Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, photo, was rushed to hospital in critical condition before also dying the next day

Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, photo, died after consuming the traditional cake on December 23

Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, pictured, died after eating Christmas cake on December 23

Tributes have since been paid to Maida, a teacher, who has been praised as ‘amazing’ by friends

“However, other evidence that comes to light may contradict what I now think. It is an investigation that requires great caution.

‘We are working mainly by hearing from all the people who have had contact with the family to understand this family life.

‘In short, the statements mean that the family lived in harmony. This leads us to believe so far that there was no malicious behavior.”

He added that survivors had told police the cake had “a peppery taste” and that they had suffered from illness and diarrhea in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

The hospital official said Tatiana and Maida suffered fatal heart attacks and Neuza died of “shock after food poisoning.”

Arsenic is a highly toxic substance, but police said Zeli was currently “not a suspect” in the current case or her husband’s death.