A Christmas gathering in Torres, Brazil, took a tragic turn when a homemade cake led to the deaths of three women and the hospitalization of several other family members. The dos Anjos family had assembled on December 23rd to celebrate the holiday, but the festive occasion quickly devolved into a nightmare after consuming the dessert. Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, succumbed to the illness on the same day, while Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, passed away the following day after being rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The cake, a seemingly innocuous element of the Christmas celebration, became the focal point of a police investigation seeking to determine the cause of the tragic deaths. Maida, one of the victims, had baked the cake along with her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who also fell ill and was hospitalized. Seven family members in total consumed the cake, with a lone individual abstaining. Three others, including a 10-year-old boy, became unwell after eating the cake, highlighting the severity of the contamination.
Authorities are working diligently to unravel the mystery surrounding the contaminated cake. Officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso is leading the investigation and awaiting the results of tests to pinpoint the exact cause of the deaths. Zeli, the co-baker of the cake, remains hospitalized but is expected to provide crucial details regarding the ingredients’ purchase location and time. This information could prove vital in identifying the source of the contamination.
Adding another layer of complexity to the investigation is the recent exhumation of Zeli’s husband’s body. He had passed away in September due to food poisoning, prompting police to investigate a potential link between the two incidents. This separate investigation will aim to determine if there are any commonalities between the two cases and whether the earlier death provides any clues about the current tragedy.
The hospital attending to the victims, Hospital Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes de Torres, reported that Tatiana and Maida died of cardiac arrest. Neuza’s death was attributed to “shock after food poisoning.” The familial relationships between the victims reveal a close-knit family devastated by this sudden loss. Maida, Neuza, and Zeli were sisters, while Tatiana was Neuza’s daughter. The surviving family members, Zeli and the 10-year-old boy, remain hospitalized in stable condition. A sixth family member, believed to be Maida’s husband, has been discharged.
The investigation has broadened to include interviews with neighbors and an examination of the family’s home. Preliminary findings reveal a troubling detail: numerous expired food items were found in the residence, including mayonnaise that was a year past its expiration date. Furthermore, a bottle of medication was discovered containing a white liquid instead of the expected capsules, adding another potential avenue of investigation. These discoveries raise questions about food safety practices within the household and whether the expired items played a role in the tragedy. The police are meticulously examining all collected evidence, including the white liquid found in the medicine bottle, to determine its relevance to the case. The investigation underscores the critical importance of proper food handling and storage to prevent such devastating incidents.
