Authorities in Brazil are investigating the deaths of three women and the hospitalization of others after a family consumed a Christmas cake laced with arsenic.
The tragedy unfolded on December 23 in Torres, a small seaside town in southern Brazil, where the family had gathered for a festive celebration. Three women, aged 43, 58, and 65, succumbed to poisoning after eating the cake.
The woman who baked the cake and a 10-year-old girl remain in the hospital undergoing treatment. Police are waiting for the hospitalised woman’s condition to improve before questioning her, while 15 others have already provided testimony as part of the investigation.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of arsenic in blood samples from the deceased women. However, authorities have not yet classified the case as murder and have not identified any suspects.
Police reports indicate that the woman who made the cake had a good relationship with her family, with no initial signs of disputes. Images shared online show the cake, decorated with dried fruits, white marzipan icing, and maraschino cherries.
Interestingly, one person at the gathering did not eat the cake and was unaffected.
The case has taken another turn as police are now re-examining the death of the cake baker’s ex-husband, who passed away in September. His death, initially believed to be from foodborne illness, is now under suspicion, and authorities have ordered his body to be exhumed for further investigation.
The investigation continues, with the community awaiting answers in what has become a chilling holiday mystery.
