In a shocking incident in Brazil, a woman is accused of sending poisoned chocolate Easter eggs to her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old boy and leaving two others critically ill. The suspect, 35-year-old Jordélia Pereira Barbosa, is believed to have bought the chocolates in disguise from a supermarket, lacing them with poison before having them delivered to the home of 32-year-old Mirian Lira.
Barbosa reportedly included a note with the gift that read, “With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.” Upon receiving the gift, Lira shared the chocolates with her children, 7-year-old Luis Silva and 13-year-old Evelyn Fernanda. Shortly after consuming the chocolates, young Luis fell ill and tragically passed away at a nearby hospital the following day. Both Evelyn and Lira remain in critical condition at the same hospital.
The exact cause of Luis’s death has yet to be confirmed, and the remaining chocolates are currently being tested. This is not the first time Barbosa has been suspected of attempting to poison Lira. Local reports suggest she previously tried to give Lira tainted candies during a chocolate-tasting session at the supermarket where she worked.
Barbosa was apprehended by Maranhão Civil Police while on a bus heading to her hometown, Santa Inês. The arrest followed the discovery of receipts that implicated her in the poisoning. Barbosa’s ex-boyfriend also suggested to police that she could have been involved. While Barbosa admitted to buying the chocolates, she denied poisoning them.
Police recovered several items from Barbosa, including two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife, and unknown substances. Maurício Martins, a security official in Brazil, stated that the alleged poisoning appeared to be driven by “revenge and jealousy.” He added, “There are several indications that clearly point to this woman being the perpetrator of the crime. The police will continue working to strengthen this evidence and present her to the Judiciary to answer for this barbaric crime.”
This incident follows a similar case in Brazil last December, where a woman allegedly laced a Christmas cake with arsenic and fed it to six of her relatives. Two died immediately, while another passed away shortly after at a hospital. The other three were hospitalized and eventually discharged.