Laced Christmas cake survivor says daughter-in-law ‘took four most important people’ from her life

A woman who survived eating arsenic-laced Christmas cake says her daughter-in-law “took the four most important people from my life”.

The police believe Zeli Terezinha Silva dos Anjos was the main target of the poisoning that killed her two sisters and a niece.

She spoke on Sunday (16 Feb) for the first time since the alleged murders by her daughter-in-law, Deise Moura dos Anjos.

Zeli told local media: “I don’t feel pity, anger or hatred. I don’t even know what I feel.

“But, when I think about how she took the four most important people from my life…”

Deise was arrested on 5 January on suspicion of poisoning the flour Zeli had used to make the fruitcake.

Zeli was one of seven who began feeling unwell after eating the cake on Christmas Eve in Torres, Brazil.

Her sisters, Maida and Neuza, and Neuza’s daughter, Tatiana, succumbed within hours.

Zeli survived and was discharged from the hospital in January.

The police were also investigating if Deise was responsible for the death of her father-in-law, Paulo Luiz dos Anjos.

Paulo died from an intestinal infection after he and Zeli consumed bananas and powdered milk brought to their house by Deise.

His body was later exhumed and tests confirmed he had ingested arsenic.

Deise was found without vital signs on Thursday (13 Feb) during the daily inmate check at the Guaíba Women’s State Penitentiary.

It’s believed she hanged herself when she was alone in her cell.

Her cause of death was given as “self-inflicted mechanical asphyxiation”, as reported by Need To Know.

Police chief Marcus Veloso said: “Her main target was Zeli.

“She was there on 2 September when the coffee with powdered milk was prepared, along with her husband.

“She was also present when Zeli baked the cake in Arroio do Sal.”

Zeli told local media about how she is coping with the ordeal.

She added: “Taking it one day at a time, thinking about how my grandson needs me, and my son too.”