Brazilian Woman Arrested for Poisoning Christmas Cake That Killed Three Family Members

The suspect, reportedly the daughter-in-law of the cake's baker, faces triple homicide charges after arsenic was found in the victims' blood and cake ingredients.

Three women died and three others were hospitalized after consuming an arsenic-laced Christmas cake at a family gathering in Torres, Brazil, on December 23, 2024.
The suspect, identified as Deise Moura dos Anjos, was arrested on January 5 and faces charges of triple homicide and triple attempted homicide.
Investigators found extremely high levels of arsenic in the victims' blood, the cake, and its ingredients, with the flour containing arsenic levels 2,700 times above the permitted limit.
Police are also reopening the investigation into the September 2024 death of the baker's husband, who died of suspected food poisoning, with plans to exhume his body for further analysis.
Authorities are exploring potential motives, noting longstanding family disputes, though the broader family dynamic was described as generally harmonious.