A jealous ex allegedly sent poisoned chocolate Easter eggs to the home of her love rival, killing a 7-year-old boy and leaving two people in critical condition in Brazil.
Jordélia Pereira Barbosa, 35, allegedly purchased the chocolate eggs in a disguise at a supermarket and spiked them herself before they were delivered to the home of her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, 32-year-old Mirian Lira, according to reports.
Barbosa left a note with the gift that read, “With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter,” the Daily Mail reported.
Lira received the gift and shared the eggs with her children, 7-year-old Luis Silva and 13-year-old Evelyn Fernanda, last Wednesday.
Little Luis fell ill “immediately” after eating the chocolates and died at a nearby hospital the following day. Evelyn and Lira are still in critical condition at the same hospital, according to The Standard.
The cause of death for Luis has not been confirmed. The remaining chocolates are also being tested.
Barbosa previously hatched a failed plan to poison Lira, according to local reports.
She allegedly tried to give Lira tainted candies at a chocolate-tasting session for employees at the supermarket where she worked, Imperatriz Online reported.
Maranhão Civil Police arrested Barbosa while she was on a bus heading to her hometown, Santa Inês, last Thursday after authorities found receipts pointing towards her role in the poisoning. Police also spoke with Barbosa’s ex-boyfriend, who indicated that she could’ve been involved, according to the Daily Mail.
Barbosa admitted to purchasing the chocolates, but not to poisoning the eggs, according to reports.
In addition to the receipts, police also recovered two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife and unknown substances in Barbosa’s possession.
Maurício Martins, a security official in Brazil, wrote in a statement to The Standard that the alleged poisoning “was motivated by revenge and jealousy.”
“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,” Martins wrote.
A similar attack perpetrated by a toxic relative rocked Brazil in December.
One woman allegedly baked and laced a Christmas cake with arsenic before feeding 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.