A woman accused of fatally poisoning three of her in-laws with an arsenic-laced Christmas cake has been found dead in her cell.
The body of Deise Moura dos Anjos was discovered this (13 Feb) morning during the daily inmate check.
There was nothing that the prison staff could do.
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Her cause of death has been given as “self-inflicted mechanical asphyxiation”, according to officials.
Deise was arrested on 5 January on suspicion of poisoning the flour used to make a fruitcake.
Detectives were also investigating if she was responsible for the death of her dad-in-law, Paulo Luiz dos Anjos.
Paulo died from an intestinal infection in September last year after consuming bananas and powdered milk brought to his house by Deise.
His body was later exhumed and tests confirmed he had ingested arsenic.
It’s believed Deise hanged herself when she was alone in her cell at the Guaíba Women’s State Penitentiary, Brazil.
She had spent a month at the Torres Women’s State Prison before being transferred for security reasons last Thursday (6 Feb).
The mass poisoning happened on Christmas Eve when seven members of the same family began feeling unwell after eating the cake.
Three succumbed within hours.
Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva died from cardiac arrest.
And Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos reportedly died from “shock caused by food poisoning”.
Deise’s mum-in-law, Zeli dos Anjos, survived, despite being the only person to eat two pieces of the cake.
She was discharged from the hospital in January, as reported by Need To Know.
A 10-year-old child who ate a piece also survived and has been discharged.
The police believe Zeli, who’d baked the cake in Arroio do Sal and taken it to the house in Torres, was Deise’s intended victim.
Detective 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.”
The Penitentiary Police said: “The circumstances will be investigated by the Civil Police and the General Institute of Forensics.”
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