In a shocking incident that has marred what was meant to be a joyful Christmas gathering, three women have died after consuming a cake suspected of being poisoned in Torres, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Police officials report that arsenic, a highly toxic substance, has been identified in the blood of one of the deceased, as well as a 10-year-old boy and the woman who baked the cake, who are currently hospitalized.
According to local media sources, five members of the same family fell ill after enjoying the cake during a holiday celebration on Monday afternoon. Their health deteriorated rapidly, leading to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea, prompting them to seek medical attention at the Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes Hospital early Tuesday. Tragically, two sisters among them succumbed to cardiac arrest, while a 65-year-old woman later died from shock attributed to food poisoning.
Police have confiscated the cake for further testing and discovered several expired food items in the cake maker's residence. They have stated that investigations are ongoing, with no charges currently filed against the woman, who has not been named as a suspect. Notably, she is believed to have consumed two slices of the cake, resulting in her blood test showing the highest levels of arsenic.
Adding to the perplexing case, police have requested the exhumation of the woman's deceased husband, who passed away in September due to food poisoning, which at the time was declared a natural cause. Local authorities want to determine if there is any link to the current poisoning incident.
In interviews, police chief Marcos Vinicius Veloso noted that some family members reported a "peppery" taste from the cake, raising concerns over the potential intentionality behind the poisoning. Test results from the cake are expected to be completed by next week, as the investigation unfolds, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
