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Topics: Crime, World News, News
Joe Yates
Surveillance footage has been released which allegedly depicts the moment the Easter eggs that killed two young children were purchased.
Jordélia Pereira Barbosa has been arrested by police in Imperatriz, Brazil, in connection to the deaths of seven-year-old Luis and his 13-year-old sister Evelyn Silva, who died after eating an allegedly poisoned Easter egg.
The children's mother, 32-year-old Mirian Lira remains in critical condition in hospital after she too ate the chocolate eggs.
Within hours of eating the contaminated treat, Luis tragically passed away a day later on April 17.
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Evelyn died of multiple organ failure after a five-day fight for her life, on Tuesday (April 22).
It has been alleged that 35-year-old Barbosa delivered the Easter eggs to Mirian's door as part of a 'revenge' plot against her ex-boyfriend, who is now Lira's partner.
When Mirian found the chocolate on her door, there was a note that was attached to it that is believed to have read: "With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter."
According to police, Barbosa was captured on CCTV buying the decorative Easter eggs while disguised with a black wig on, to hide her bleached blonde hair, as well as sunglasses.
The video allegedly depicts Barbosa trying to pay for the eggs for two and a half minutes with no emotion in her face.
Police in Brazil have stated that Barbosa then sent them to Mirian's door via courier, who then in turn unknowingly shared the treats with her children.
Soon after Mirian is understood to have received an anonymous call asking whether she had received the package.
The following day, on Thursday last week, Barbosa caught a long-distance coach heading for Santa Ines, which is believed to be 200 miles away.
In her possession she had the receipt for chocolate eggs, as well as two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife and other unknown substances.
When questioned by police, Barbosa admitted to buying the eggs in the run up to Easter, but claimed to police she did not poison them.
Authorities have also claimed that Barbosa had previously attempted this before.
Imperatriz reports that Barbosa allegedly went to Lira’s workplace to offer chocolate tasters to employees, but she was turned away, before heading to the parking lot to hand them out.
According to Brazilian news outlet G1, Maurício Martins, Maranhão’s Department of Security Secretary, said: "The evidence suggests that the crime was motivated by revenge, by 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."
UNILAD has previously contacted Polícia Civil do Maranhão for comment.