A 59-year-old woman, Izabel Cardoso de Andrade, has been detained in Brazil after allegedly poisoning her two granddaughters with a homemade cake, an incident that led to the death of a nine-year-old child.
The Incident
The tragedy happened on July 23, 2025, in São Francisco, eastern Brazil, while the children were spending their holiday with their grandparents.
After eating the cake, nine-year-old Alana dos Santos Cardoso Marques fell critically ill, while her 11-year-old sister — who had only a small portion — also showed symptoms but survived. Even the family’s cat reportedly died after consuming some of the cake.
Symptoms and Death
Both children began vomiting and suffering severe stomach pains shortly after the meal. Alana’s health deteriorated rapidly, with witnesses noting she expelled a white liquid from her nose. She was rushed to the hospital by a neighbour but died soon after from cardiopulmonary arrest.
Toxicology Report
Samples of the cake tested positive for terbufos, a highly toxic pesticide that attacks the nervous system and can cause cramps, seizures, breathing failure, and death. Autopsy results confirmed the chemical was in Alana’s system, and the cat’s death from liver failure also supported the poisoning theory.
Police Action
Authorities arrested Cardoso de Andrade on September 19, 2025. It remains unclear if the poisoning was deliberate or accidental. Her lawyer, Raphael Simões de Moraes Neto, said she is cooperating with the investigation and voluntarily allowed police to search her home.
Community Reaction
The case has left the local community devastated and demanding answers about how such a dangerous substance ended up in a child’s food. Investigations are ongoing, while the older sister continues her recovery.
