A SEVEN-year-old boy has died after a jealous ex-girlfriend poisoned Easter eggs and sent them to her former boyfriend’s new family, cops said.
Jordélia Pereira Barbosa, 35, was taken into custody in Brazil over allegations of murder for supposedly lacing the chocolate with a toxic substance out of feelings of revenge and jealousy.
The eggs were delivered on Wednesday to her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, Mirian Lira, who shared them out with her kids.
A motorbike courier reportedly turned up with the tainted treats along with a note reading: “With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.”
Following the consumption of the doctored chocolate, Mirian’s son, Luis Fernando Rocha Silva, purportedly became unwell, leading his mother to urgently transport him to Imperatriz City Hospital for medical attention.
Tragically, the boy could not be saved and died in the early hours of Thursday.
Mirian, 32, and her thirteen-year-old daughter also became sick and remain in a critical condition in hospital.
The bereaved mum reportedly received an anonymous call after the delivery asking if the package had arrived.
Samples of the chocolate have been sent off for forensic analysis to confirm whether it is toxic.
Law enforcement officials apprehended Jordélia while she was en route to her hometown of Santa Ines by bus, having lodged at a hotel 200 miles away in Imperatriz, the same locality where the targeted family resides.
Police reportedly found receipts and spoke to Jordélia’s ex-partner, which led them to believe she could be involved.
Cops also shared CCTV footage they said showed Jordélia buying Easter eggs while disguised in a black wig and dark sunglasses.
She can be seen holding the box of luxury eggs in the footage and rummaging through her bag to find a card.
Jordélia reportedly confessed to buying the chocolate in a statement at the Santa Inês Regional Police Station, but denied loading it with poison.
However, investigators say there is enough evidence to treat Jordélia as the prime suspect.
Maurício Martins, a local security official, told news outlet G1: “The evidence suggests, based on several points investigated, that the crime was motivated by revenge and jealousy, given that the author’s ex-husband is the current partner or boyfriend of the victim, who was poisoned along with her two children.
“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.”
Investigators reportedly seized two wigs, receipts, cards, scissors, a saw knife and what appeared to be drugs from Jordélia.
There will be an autopsy on Luis’s body, which is expected to prove poisoning as the cause of death.
Tests are also being carried out on the two survivors and the remains of the eggs.
