The mysterious and tragic saga surrounding the suspected culprit behind the poisoning deaths linked to a Christmas cake has taken another ominous turn. Deise Moura dos Anjos, the woman at the center of this chilling case, was discovered lifeless in her prison cell in Brazil. This shocking development unfolded during a routine morning check at a women’s state prison in the city of GuaÃba, located in the southern region of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, as reported by CNN affiliate CNN Brasil on Thursday, citing local law enforcement authorities.
Upon finding Deise Moura dos Anjos unresponsive, prison staff swiftly administered initial emergency treatments and promptly summoned the necessary medical assistance. However, the emergency responders who arrived at the scene could only confirm her untimely demise. The official statement released by the criminal police indicated, “Deise was alone in the cell. The circumstances of her death will be thoroughly scrutinized by the Civil Police and the General Institute of Expertise.”
Adding to the intrigue, it was disclosed by CNN Brasil that Dos Anjos’ husband, Diego, had initiated divorce proceedings just a day before her tragic passing. The disastrous incident, which resulted in the fatalities of three individuals and the hospitalization of three others, transpired on Christmas Eve in the city of Torres in Rio Grande do Sul. Shockingly high levels of arsenic were identified in the deceased women’s bodies, while the flour used in the fatal cake was found to contain arsenic levels a staggering 2,700 times above the permissible limit, as per the findings of the police investigation.
It was determined that Dos Anjos, who was apprehended in early January and subsequently charged with triple homicide alongside three counts of attempted homicide, had familial ties to one of the victims, namely 60-year-old Zeli dos Anjos. Notably, Zeli was credited with baking the ill-fated cake, according to details reported by CNN Brasil. Law enforcement officials had previously indicated that Dos Anjos harbored long-standing disputes with her family spanning over two decades.
CNN has initiated outreach to local law enforcement authorities for additional insights and clarification on this perplexing and tragic turn of events. The investigative reporting contributions of CNN’s Duarte Mendonca, João Scavacin, and Rosa Rahimi have been instrumental in shedding light on this unfolding narrative. For the latest updates and comprehensive coverage of global news, including exclusive newsletters, create an account on CNN.com.
