A quiet family celebration in Brazil has turned into a chilling homicide investigation after a 52-year-old woman and her daughter died from suspected poisoning linked to a birthday cake.
Ana Maria de Jesus and her daughter, Larissa de Jesus Castilho, were rushed to hospital after consuming a slice of cake delivered to their home in São Paulo’s Ipiranga district. Ana Maria, who had missed the family gathering due to illness, reportedly called her daughter shortly after eating the cake, complaining of dizziness and weakness. She was later placed on a ventilator at Heliopolis Hospital.
Larissa and a 16-year-old cousin also fell ill after eating the same cake. While the teenager survived, both Ana Maria and Larissa died within days of each other.
Brazilian authorities have launched a full-scale investigation, with the São Paulo Secretariat of Public Security confirming that a homicide unit is now handling the case.
“On October 8, search and seizure warrants were executed, resulting in the seizure of cell phones, which were sent for data extraction. The information obtained is still being analysed by investigators,” the Secretariat stated.
Suspicion has fallen on Ana Maria’s niece, Patricia, and her partner Leonardo, after police uncovered disturbing internet searches on their devices, including “heart attack causes convulsions” and “intoxication from cleaning product.” Leonardo was also captured on CCTV delivering the cake to Ana Maria’s residence the day after the birthday celebration.
Despite the evidence, a judge has reportedly denied police requests to arrest the pair, though no official reason has been disclosed.
Investigators believe the motive may be financial. Ana Maria was known to have regularly lent money to Patricia and Leonardo, and authorities suspect the deaths may be linked to unresolved debts.
