A woman in Brazil has been accused of sending poisoned Easter eggs to her ex-boyfriend’s new partner and her family, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old boy and the hospitalization of two others, according to local reports.
Jordélia Pereira Barbosa allegedly purchased the holiday chocolates, spiked them with poison, then had them delivered on Wednesday by courier to her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend, Mirian Lira.
The parcel also allegedly came with a note directly addressing Lira, who went on to share the treats with her children, reported FDamiaoNoticias.
Lira’s son, Luis Silva, fell ill after eating the chocolate and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He was pronounced dead on Thursday, but his cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Lira and her 13-year-old daughter, Evelyn Fernanda, remained hospitalized as of Saturday, according to G1. They were both said to be in critical condition.
Police said they have CCTV video of Barbosa purchasing the chocolate eggs, which will undergo forensic testing to confirm the presence of poison. She was sporting a dark wig when she showed up to the store, where Lira also works, and told the manager she wanted to host a chocolate tasting for staff.
When Barbosa struggled to answer several basic questions, including which company she worked for, the manager turned her away. Police said she then attempted to hand out chocolates to people in the parking lot, hoping one would get to Lira, before seemingly coming up with another plan.
Barbosa was arrested by the Maranhão Civil Police on a bus traveling toward her hometown of Santa Inês on Thursday. Along with receipts for chocolate eggs purchased elsewhere, police said they also discovered receipts for two wigs, scissors and a saw knife, along with suspected drugs in Barbosa’s possession, according to The London Standard.
“There are several indications that clearly point to this woman being the perpetrator of the crime,” security official Maurício Martins said in a statement to G1. “The police will continue working to strengthen this evidence and present her to the Judiciary to answer for this barbaric crime.”
