A seven-year-old Brazilian boy has died, and his mother and sister are fighting for their lives after consuming a poisoned Easter egg allegedly sent by a woman with a grudge against the family.
Luís Fernando Rocha Silva passed away on Thursday after eating the tainted chocolate, which authorities believe was laced with a deadly substance. His mother, Mirian Lira, 32, and 13-year-old sister, Evelyn Fernanda, remain hospitalized in critical condition.
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The prime suspect, 35-year-old Jordélia Pereira Barbosa, was arrested in Santa Inês, Brazil, after a manhunt by Maranhão’s Civil Police. Authorities say Pereira Barbosa had a prior relationship with Mirian’s current boyfriend, fueling suspicions of a revenge plot, Imperatriz Online reported.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when a motorcycle courier delivered the Easter egg to the family’s home, disguised as a present from a secret admirer. A note attached read: “With love to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.”
Mirian later received an anonymous call asking if she had received the gift. When she questioned the caller, there was no response. Hours later, Luís Fernando became violently ill—the first to show signs of poisoning.
Doctors at Imperatriz Municipal Hospital intubated the boy in a desperate attempt to save him, but he died shortly after arrival. Mirian soon collapsed, her hands turning purple as she struggled to breathe. Evelyn Fernanda also fell ill after eating part of the chocolate and was rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms, according to The Standard.
Authorities are treating the case as a homicide, with forensic teams analyzing the chocolate for traces of poison. “This is a priority investigation,” police stated, confirming that samples were sent to the Imperatriz Criminalistics Institute for testing.
Pereira Barbosa was apprehended on a bus by officers from the SSP Intelligence Centre. While her exact motive remains unclear, police suspect personal vengeance may have driven the attack, the Daily Mail reported.
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In a separate incident, an Easter brunch in Libertyville, Illinois, turned chaotic when a buffet table erupted in flames, injuring four people. The fire broke out at Austin’s Saloon & Eatery around 1 p.m. CDT after a reported propane tank malfunction.
Witness John Coyne described the terrifying moment on social media: “Very scary scene at Austin’s in Libertyville… I heard a loud noise and felt heat behind me to turn around and see the entire buffet table ablaze.” Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, but the cause remains under investigation.
As Brazilian authorities work to uncover the full extent of the poisoning case, Luís Fernando’s family mourns an unimaginable loss, while a mother and daughter cling to life, victims of a cruel and calculated act.
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- Boy, 7, Allegedly Dies After Eating Poisoned Easter Egg in Suspected Revenge Plot