A tragic Christmas party in Brazil turned deadly when a poisoned Christmas cake resulted in the deaths of three people, including the wife of the victim's husband. Jefferson Luiz Moraes, 60, spoke out for the first time since the tragedy, describing the horror of that day and the devastating loss of his wife, Maida da Silva.
It was the day that changed Jefferson Luiz Moraes ' life forever, the day he would last be with his wife at their apartment in Torres. Maida da Silva, 58, was one of the victims of the poisoning which shocked Brazil , and the world, over Christmas. She and her sister had made two Christmas cakes which for years were traditionally eaten as a family for the festive occasion. But Maida's was not the one eaten.
Instead, it was the one her sister made, Zeli dos Anjos, which after being enjoyed by her family, unravelled the murder probe. It all happened when seven people were eating the dessert on December 23 at a family Christmas party. Straight away those who tried the cake noticed a 'bad taste' and within minutes of tucking in they started feeling sick and hours later three were dead. Maida, her sister Neuza Denize Silva Dos Anjos, 65, and Neuza's daughter Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43, died in the poisoning which left police scrambling to find answers. After traces of arsenic were found in the victims' bodies, initial suspicions fell on Zeli, who was left fighting for her life after eating two slices and whose husband, Paulo, 68, had also died months before from food poisoning. However, this prompted the question: Why would someone who makes a poisoned cake, then eat it? It was then that police turned to other culprits for answers. Maida's husband of 32 years, Jefferson, has now spoken for the first time since the horror of that day. Maida's husband of 32 years, Jefferson Luiz Moraes, pictured, has now spoken for the first time since the horror of that day Maida da Silva, 58, was one of the victims of the poisoning which shocked Brazil, and the world, over Christmas Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, pictured, died following having the Christmas cake on December 23 Police in Brazil now suspect that Deise Moura 'spiked' with arsenic the flour that was then used to make the cake The 60-year-old told local news channel G1 how everyone noticed that something was not quite right with Zeli's cake. 'When I ate it I also sensed a bad taste, but because the cake had sugar on top it hid a little bit.' Maida then stood up as she was feeling restless, her husband said. He later also felt ill. 'Neuza ate the cake, and then was going to eat again and said 'don't eat it because it's not good. 'After that Zeli went across the corridor to vomit. It was three or four minutes, no more than that. After that Zeli passed out.' Paramedics rushed to the apartment in Torres, near Porto Alegre in the southern part of the country. Since that day, the reality of living without his wife left him feeling a 'role', Mr Luiz Moraes said. 'My other half is gone. I have to rebuild everything again. Sleeping is difficult. I didn't want to take sleeping pills, but I think I have to. At night, all that is left is a hole. And we were all having a great time.' The 60-year-old showed local press the table where the family met and ate the cake It was also shown the sink which the family members ran to after falling ill Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjo, 65, pictured, was rushed to hospital in critical condition before also dying the following day This is the apartment block where the family had their festive event and ate the Christmas cake After the shocking deaths after the arsenic findings, the police ordered for Mr Dos Anjo's body to be exhumed and forensic experts confirmed that high levels of arsenic were found in his 'stomach, nails, bladder and abdominal wall as well as the liver'. He added: 'Maida loved these festive occasions. Chiristmas, New Year's and birthdays. She always enjoyed these.' After the shocking deaths after the arsenic findings, the police ordered for Mr Dos Anjo's body to be exhumed and forensic experts confirmed that high levels of arsenic were found in his 'stomach, nails, bladder and abdominal wall as well as the liver'. Widoer Jefferson said from there, this became a 'terror' for those who were left trying to pick up the pieces. Read More TOM RAWSTORNE: 'You'll see your family in a coffin', said woman police allege poisoned her family He said: 'Terror. But we didn't know it was going to be so serious yet. I didn't join the dots of Paulo (the death of Zeli's husband). But later, at Neuza's wake, my sister started researching there, and she showed me'Look, it could be arsenic.'' As previously reported Zeli's daughter-in-law, Deise Moura, was last week arrested on suspicion of three murders and three attempted murders. Brazilian detectives went further and announced: 'The evidence collected so far convinces us that the suspect the author of these crimes will probably not leave prison in her lifetime.' Police believe that Deise Moura 'spiked' with arsenic the flour that was then used to make the cake and must have tampered with the food that Mr Dos Anjos ate in Septembe
Christmas Poisoning Brazil Arsenic Murder Family Tragedy Deise Moura Jefferson Luiz Moraes Maida Da Silva
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