A woman allegedly sent poisoned Easter eggs to her ex-boyfriend’s new lover in a sick murder plot.
Jordélia Pereira Barbosa, 35, is accused of sending an Easter egg via motorbike courier to Mirian Lira, her ex-boyfriend’s new romantic partner. Barbosa allegedly purchased luxury chocolate eggs while disguised, before lacing them with poison in a plot “motivated by revenge and jealousy,” officials say.
According to local reports, Barbosa included a note with the Easter egg that read, “With love, to Miriam Lira. Happy Easter.” Heartbreakingly, Lira, 35, shared the chocolates with her children before receiving an anonymous phone call asking if she had received the package, Mail Online reports.
On April 16, Lira and her teenage daughter, Evelyn Fernanda, were hospitalised in critical condition after consuming the chocolate. Lira’s seven-year-old son, Luis Silva became violently ill almost immediately, and despite being rushed to Imperatriz City Hospital in Maranhão, Brazil, he died within hours, early on Thursday morning.
Tests are currently being conducted on the leftover chocolate, as well as blood samples from Lira and her daughter. An autopsy on Luis is expected to confirm poisoning as the cause of death. Barbosa, who lives approximately 200 miles away in Santa Inês, was reportedly staying at a hotel in Imperatriz at the time of the incident. She was later arrested by police while on an intercity bus traveling back to Santa Inês.
Her former partner informed investigators that he suspected Barbosa might be involved in the incident. Authorities have since discovered receipts for the chocolate eggs, two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife, and suspected drugs in her possession.
Authorities also believe this was not Barbosa’s first attempt to harm Lira. They allege that previously, Barbosa tried to hand out poisoned sweet treats at a supermarket where Lira worked. Barbosa reportedly visited the store under the guise of offering a chocolate tasting to employees but was turned away when she failed to provide details about the company she claimed to represent.
She then allegedly went to the supermarket’s parking lot, trying to hand out chocolates to the employees, but Lira was not present at the time. Barbosa later sent the poisoned Easter egg to Lira’s home, which led to the tragic death of Lira’s son.
It remains unclear if any of Lira’s colleagues were harmed during the earlier attempt. Security footage obtained by CNN Brasil shows a woman, believed to be Barbosa, wearing a wig and glasses while purchasing a box of chocolates.
Authorities later seized a wig, glasses, a fake badge, and a portion of chocolate she allegedly carried, according to CNN Brasil. The exact charges Barbosa faces have not been revealed.
On Monday afternoon, Imperatriz reported that Lira is recovering and receiving psychological treatment while communicating with relatives. Her 13-year-old daughter, Fernanda, remains in critical condition.
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