In a tragic event in Brazil, a seven-year-old boy has passed away after consuming ‘poisoned Easter eggs’ in what is alleged to be a vengeful act.
Jordélia Pereira Barbosa has been detained on charges of tampering with chocolate eggs intended for her ex-boyfriend’s new family, resulting in the critical illness of two individuals and the death of a child.
Barbosa stands accused of obtaining, contaminating, and delivering the dangerous chocolates to her former partner’s current girlfriend’s family, driven by motives of ‘revenge’ and ‘jealousy,’ according to local law enforcement.
The 35-year-old is suspected of buying the Easter eggs from a supermarket and allegedly contaminating them before sending them to the residence of her ex-boyfriend’s new partner.
Reports from The Daily Mail indicate that Barbosa allegedly coordinated the delivery of the chocolates using a motorcycle courier and included a card with the message, “With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.”
It is reported that Lira shared the chocolates with her children, a seven-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, last Wednesday.
The young boy became ill ‘immediately’ after consuming the chocolates and sadly died a few hours after being admitted to Imperatriz City Hospital.
The girl and her mother remain in critical condition at the hospital, both reportedly requiring intubation, as per the latest updates.
Authorities are still working to confirm the cause of death, with forensic tests being conducted on the remaining chocolates to verify possible poisoning.
Barbosa was apprehended by Maranhão Civil Police on a bus heading to her home in Santa Inês on Thursday, after a shopping receipt linked her to the purchase.
Surveillance footage also purportedly captured her buying the chocolate while wearing a dark wig to disguise her blonde hair.
Barbosa’s former boyfriend informed the police that she might be involved in the incident.
Barbosa has admitted to buying the chocolates but denies poisoning them.
Police discovered various items in her possession, including two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife, and unidentified substances.
Brazilian security official Maurício Martins told the Standard that the suspected poisoning was driven by ‘revenge and jealousy.’
“There are several indications that clearly point to this woman being the perpetrator of the crime,” he stated. “The police will continue working to strengthen this evidence and present her to the Judiciary to answer for this barbaric crime.”
An autopsy on the young boy by the local medical institute is pending to ascertain the cause of death, though authorities suspect poisoning will be confirmed.
Further tests will be conducted on the surviving victims and the remaining chocolate.