Woman who ’murdered family with poisoned Christmas cake’ found dead in prison cell

13 February 2025 , 19:19

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Woman who ’murdered family with poisoned Christmas cake’ found dead in prison cell

Deise Moura dos Anjos, who was accused of fatally poisoning three members of her family with a Christmas cake, has been found dead in her cell at a women’s penitentiary.

A woman accused of fatally poisoning three of her in-laws with an arsenic-laced Christmas cake in Brazil has been found dead in her prison cell.

The body of Deise Moura dos Anjos was discovered this morning during a daily check on inmates at a women’s penitentiary. Her cause of death has been given as "self-inflicted mechanical asphyxiation", according to officials. Deise was being held in custody after she was arrested on January 5 on suspicion of poisoning flour used to make a festive fruitcake for her family. Detectives were also investigating if she was responsible for the earlier death of her father-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 Gua ba 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.

The mass poisoning unfolded 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. 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 hospital in January.

A 10-year-old child who ate a piece also survived and has been discharged. The police believe Zeli, who had 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." Following her death, the Penitentiary Police said: "The circumstances will be investigated by the Civil Police and the General Institute of Forensics."

Thomas Brown