A shocking case has emerged from Brazil, where a 59-year-old grandmother has been accused of poisoning her homemade cake, resulting in the deaths of her 9-year-old granddaughter and the family’s pet cat, while her 11-year-old granddaughter survived with milder symptoms, according to the UK’s Daily Mirror.
The incident occurred in São Francisco, eastern Brazil, during the girls’ summer stay at their grandmother Izabel Cardoso de Andrade’s home. Allegedly, Izabel prepared the cake, while her husband also purchased another cake and some cheese bread for the children—whether he was involved remains unclear.
On July 23, shortly after eating the grandmother’s cake, the girls began showing signs of severe illness. The younger granddaughter, Alana dos Santos Cardoso Marques, 9, started vomiting and complained of intense abdominal pain. Her older sister, 11, exhibited milder symptoms, and the family cat reportedly became ill after ingesting some of the cake.
Alana’s condition rapidly worsened, with white fluid reportedly coming from her nose. Her grandparents immediately called for help, and neighbors rushed the girls to the hospital. Tragically, Alana died from cardiac and respiratory failure shortly after arriving. The family cat was later found dead, showing similar symptoms.
Police collected cake samples from the home for testing and arrested Izabel on September 19. Forensic analysis revealed the presence of the highly toxic pesticide terbufos in both the cake and Alana’s body. A veterinarian confirmed the cat’s death was due to liver failure, supporting the theory of poisoning.
Terbufos is a potent organophosphate that attacks the central nervous system, causing muscle weakness. In high doses, it can be fatal. Other symptoms include seizures, respiratory distress, convulsions, and potentially permanent nerve damage.
