SÃO FRANCISCO, Brazil (BN24) — A grandmother in Brazil has been arrested after authorities alleged she poisoned her two grandchildren with a cake that resulted in the death of a nine-year-old girl and the family’s pet cat.
Izabel Cardoso de Andrade, 59, was taken into custody Friday in connection with the July incident in São Francisco, a municipality located east of Brasília. Local police say Andrade served cake to her grandchildren, aged nine and 11, during a summer holiday visit to her home on July 23. The cake was reportedly prepared by Andrade herself, while her husband had also brought additional baked goods, including another cake and cheese bread, for the afternoon snack.
Shortly after eating the cake, the younger child, identified as Alana dos Santos Cardoso Marques, began to exhibit signs of severe illness. Her older sibling, who consumed a smaller portion due to reportedly disliking the taste, experienced milder symptoms and survived.
According to witness statements and police reports, Alana and her sister began complaining of nausea and abdominal pain. Alana was later observed expelling a white liquid from her nose. A neighbor rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she died shortly after arrival from cardiopulmonary arrest.
The family cat, which had also consumed some of the cake, became ill and later died after wandering into a neighbor’s property. That neighbor later handed the deceased animal over to the police during the initial investigation.
Forensic testing carried out on both the food and the victim’s body confirmed the presence of terbufos, a toxic pesticide compound banned in many countries but still used in some agrochemicals. Authorities say the substance is highly toxic to humans and animals, causing symptoms that include respiratory distress, muscle weakness, seizures, and in severe cases, neurological failure or death.
A veterinarian’s report concluded the cat had suffered liver failure, consistent with poisoning. Investigators are still working to determine whether the alleged poisoning was intentional or accidental. Police say they have not yet established a motive.
Andrade’s attorney, Raphael Simões de Moraes Neto, stated that his client has cooperated fully with the investigation, voluntarily authorizing searches of her residence and providing statements to law enforcement. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and test remaining food samples.
The case bears disturbing similarities to a recent high-profile incident in Australia, where a woman was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing three family members with a mushroom-laced beef Wellington. In Brazil, this latest case adds to growing public concern over domestic poisonings.
The investigation remains ongoing.
