A 53-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with the tragic deaths of his wife, stepchildren and brother-in-law after they were poisoned while having a New Year's Day meal. Francisco Pereira was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in Parnaiba, Brazil, just a week after he allegedly contaminated the family's rice.
![[Francisco Pereira was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in Parnaiba]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/second-family-murder-probe-hits-962421902.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Pereira was held this morning on suspicion of killing one-year-old Igno Davi da Silva, his three-year-old sister Lauane, his 32-year-old partner Francisca Maria da Silva and Francisca Maria’s 18-year-old brother Manoel. The four victims died over seven days after eating a New Years Day rice and beans dish laced with rat poison.
![[Francisca da Silva (left) and two of her chidlren one-year-old son Igno (held by Francisca) and three-year-old daughter Maria Lauane (right) died]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/second-family-murder-probe-hits-962421912.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Detectives in Parnaiba in the north-east Brazilian state of Piaui confirmed earlier this week they had launched a murder probe and said they believed someone put a pesticide used to kill rodents in the rice deliberately which Francisca and eight relatives including her partner ate with donated fish.
![[Police reportedly said that tests showed leftover rice the family had consumed contained a pesticide used to kill rats and other rodents]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/police-reportedly-said-tests-showed-962021335-1.png?strip=all&w=446)
The 53-year-old suspect was also hospitalised briefly before being discharged. Lauane’s four-year-old sister is still serious in hospital in Teresina near Parnaiba. Cops revealed that the suspect's chilling motivation may have been Pereira having anger towards his wife and her two children.
![[One-year-old Igno Davi da Silva died on Thursday]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/fresh-horror-second-family-murder-962021337-1.png?strip=all&w=582)
Piauí Civil Police chief Abimael Silva said at a press conference following the arrest: "He revealed, as did his stepdaughters, that the relationship between them was troubled, to say the least. "He did not speak to any of his wife's children and had a specific feeling of hatred towards Francisca Maria, the children's mother.
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