Three women die after eating Christmas cake at family gathering as police launch probe
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Three women at a family gathering have died and a further three also became ill after eating a cake. The incident took place on December 23 in Brazil, with police initially withholding information regarding the victims. They have now been named locally and pictured.
Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, passed away the same day after consuming the dessert. Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, was hospitalised in critical condition before tragically dying the following day. An image of the cake shows it to be Bolo de Natal - a Brazilian Christmas cake.
Three other family members also became unwell after eating the cake, including a 10-year-old boy. It was reportedly baked by Maida and her sister, Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos, 61, who is currently in hospital. The seven family members gathered to consume the cake at Zeli's home and only one person didn't eat the cake. The Civil Police are currently awaiting results to identify what could have caused the deaths of the three women, with officer Marcos Vinicius Veloso leading the investigation.
Zeli is believed to have consumed two slices of the cake and was the first to be taken to hospital after becoming severely ill. She has provided information to authorities about the time and place where the ingredients were purchased. Police have also opened another investigation prompting the exhumation of the body of Zeli's husband. The case surrounding his death will be evaluated after he passed away in September due to food poisoning. Once Zeli has been discharged from the hospital, she will be questioned further, as reported by NeedToKnow.
