What should have been a joyful holiday gathering turned into a devastating tragedy for Zeli dos Anjos and her family.

In an emotional TV interview, she opened up about the horrifying moment when her loved ones began collapsing around her, poisoned by arsenic.

The shocking crime, which made international headlines, resulted in multiple deaths and raised disturbing questions about trust and betrayal within a family.

The Day Everything Changed

On December 23, Zeli and her relatives sat down to enjoy a homemade cake, unaware that it had been laced with arsenic.

Within moments of taking a few bites, chaos unfolded.

One family member rushed to the bathroom, another began vomiting—then, one by one, they started to fall seriously ill.

Zeli, now 61, spent 19 days in the hospital recovering from the poisoning.

However, her teacher sister Maida Bernice Flores da Silva, 58, her sibling Neuza Denize Silva Dos Anjos, 65, and Neuza’s daughter Tatiana Silvia Dos Santos, 43, were not as fortunate.

They died within hours of eating the cake. Tatiana’s 10-year-old son, Matheus, was placed in intensive care, and Maida’s husband, Jefferson, also required medical attention.

Suspicions About Deise Moura dos Anjos

Authorities quickly turned their attention to Deise Moura dos Anjos, Zeli’s daughter-in-law.

She was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Investigators suspected that this was not her first attempt at poisoning the family.

Zeli recalled that she had fallen sick months earlier after drinking coffee made with powdered milk given to her by Deise, but at the time, she dismissed concerns and did not get tested.

Suspicion also surrounded the sudden death of Zeli’s husband, Paulo Luis dos Anjos, in September.

He, too, had consumed powdered milk provided by Deise.

His body was exhumed for forensic testing, which confirmed the presence of arsenic.

A Shocking End in Prison

While awaiting trial, Deise was found dead in her prison cell on February 13.

Authorities ruled her death a suicide.

Investigators discovered that she had scrawled the words “I’m not a killer” on a T-shirt before using it to hang herself.

Reports suggested that her husband, Diego, had asked for a divorce just a day before her death.

Regional police chief Fernando Sodre stated that Deise was being held in solitary confinement as a precaution.

Officers found a note in her cell in which she continued to protest her innocence, describing herself as someone who was suffering and depressed.

A Family Struggles to Move Forward

Zeli, still grappling with the loss of her loved ones, remains committed to supporting the remaining members of her family.

She shared in her interview that she has no words to describe her emotions—no pity, no anger, no hatred—only an overwhelming sense of loss.

As authorities continue their investigation, the case serves as a chilling reminder of how trust can be shattered in the most unimaginable ways.

For Zeli, each day is a step forward, but the wounds left by this tragedy may never fully heal.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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