A woman charged with fatally poisoning her in-laws with an arsenic-infused Christmas fruitcake has been discovered dead in her prison cell. Officials conducting a routine inspection this morning at a women’s penitentiary found the body of Deise Moura dos Anjos, citing “self-inflicted mechanical asphyxiation” as the cause of death.
Deise had been detained since January 5 following her arrest for allegedly tainting flour used to bake a festive fruitcake that led to the deaths of three family members. Investigators were also probing whether she played a part in the demise of her father-in-law, Paulo Luiz dos Anjos, who suffered an intestinal infection last September after eating bananas and milk provided by Deise.
His body’s exhumation and subsequent tests revealed arsenic consumption.
It is suspected Deise took her own life by hanging while unaccompanied in her cell at the Guaíba Women’s State Penitentiary in Brazil, reports the Mirror. Initially confined at the Torres Women’s State Prison, she was moved for safety reasons last Thursday.
The tragic mass poisoning incident occurred on Christmas Eve, leaving seven family members in distress after consuming the laced cake. Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva died due to cardiac arrest, while Neuza Denize Silva dos Anjos succumbed to what was described as “shock caused by food poisoning”.
Despite consuming two portions of the fatal cake, Deise’s mother-in-law, Zeli dos Anjos, miraculously survived. She was released from hospital in January.
A 10-year-old who ate a slice of the cake also pulled through and has since been discharged. Authorities suggest Zeli was the intended target of the poisoning by Deise, who baked the cake in Arroio do Sal before bringing it to Torres.
Detective Marcus Veloso said: “Her main target was Zeli. She was there on September 2 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.”
After Deise’s death, the Penitentiary Police stated: “The circumstances will be investigated by the Civil Police and the General Institute of Forensics.”