A woman aged 35 years residing in Brazil has been accused of murder after poisoning Easter eggs and sending them to the children of her ex-boyfriend’s new partner, causing the death of a seven-year-old boy.
According to authorities, Jordélia Pereira Barbosa said purchasing, tampering, and delivering the chocolates to her ex’s new girlfriend known in Brazilian media as Mirian Lira, were motivated by “revenge and jealousy.” The package arrived on Wednesday via a motorcycle courier, accompanied by a note reading: “With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.”
Shortly after consuming the chocolates, Lira’s young son, Luis Fernando Rocha Silva, became gravely ill. He was hurriedly taken to Imperatriz City Hospital but died early Thursday morning. Lira is now in a critical condition alongside her 13-year-old daughter, Evelyn Fernanda, both intubated and fighting for their lives.
Forensic teams have collected samples of the chocolate eggs to test for toxic substances.
The Investigation
Before her arrest, Barbosa had checked into a motel in Imperatriz—200 miles from her hometown of Santa Inês—where her ex-boyfriend’s family lives. She was later detained on an intercity bus heading back to Santa Inês.
Police also seized purchase receipts and interrogated Barbosa’s ex-spouse, who allegedly suggested that she may have committed the act. Investigators’ released surveillance images show Barbosa allegedly buying the chocolate eggs while wearing a black wig and dark sunglasses, possibly to disguise her dyed blonde hair. In the video, she is seen at the checkout counter searching her bag for a credit card to pay for the premium chocolates.
While being interrogated at Santa Ines Regional Police Station, Barbosa admitted pirating the egg purchase but denied poisoning them. Authorities, however, are adamant that there is sufficient evidence tying her to the crime.
Maurício Martins, a local security officer, told news outlet G1: “The evidence strongly indicates that this crime has been committed out of revenge and jealousy because the ex-partner of the suspect is already with the victim, who has been poisoned along with her two children. All leads point to this woman being the perpetrator.”
He continued by saying that the police would consolidate the case before presenting it to the judiciary.
More Findings
Upon its delivery, Lira reportedly received an anonymous call inquiring whether she received the package, while two wigs, receipts, cards, scissors, a saw knife, and what appeared to be narcotics were said to have been found by police rummaging through Barbosa’s belongings.
An autopsy is set to confirm asphyxiation by poison in the death of Luis, while the remaining samples of chocolate and blood from the survivors undergo laboratory analysis for further evidence.
Authorities have pledged to ensure justice is served for what they describe as a “barbaric crime.”
