A police detainee is a teenage girl suspected of contaminating meals intended for her parents and cousin by adding a toxic substance known as chumbinho. The incident occurred in Nova Serrana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on January 7. The 17-year-old girl admitted to incorporating the poison into three dishes prepared by her mother, targeting her 35-year-old mum, 41-year-old dad, and 36-year-old cousin, as per the Military Police.
The girl’s actions followed a disagreement with her parents. The substance she used, typically used to eliminate rodents, was found in the meals. Major Renato Geraldo da Silva, a Military Police spokesperson, stated that the girl altered the meals out of resentment towards her family’s disapproval of her romantic relationship.
Upon noticing an unusual texture in one meal, the cousin stopped eating, alerting the family. The parents avoided consuming the contaminated food. The cousin sought medical assistance, received treatment, and is in stable condition. The teenager confessed to authorities that she acted in anger due to her parents’ disapproval of her relationship.
Forensic teams collected samples of the food and substance for laboratory analysis. The Civil Police confirmed the girl’s detention, and the investigation is ongoing. The teenager, whose identity remains undisclosed, is in custody and cooperating with legal proceedings.
In a separate case last year in Australia, a woman was convicted of murder for serving a lethal meal to three family members with death cap mushrooms. The woman, Erin Patterson, received multiple life sentences and additional years in prison. The incident garnered significant international attention for the severity of the crime.