Two children die after eating deliberately poisoned Easter eggs

Police say the attack targeting their mum was "motivated by revenge and jealousy."

A young child and a teenager have died after their family were allegedly sent poisoned Easter eggs in what authorities believe was a “revenge plot.”

A 35-year-old woman has now been arrested after allegedly sending the eggs to the family of her ex-boyfriend on 16th April.

Police suspect Jordélia Pereira Barbosa purchased the chocolates while in disguise, then spiked them and had them delivered to her former lover’s family in Brazil. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Poisoned chocolate arrive with note: "With love, Happy Easter"

Video obtained by local news outlet Imperatriz Online  shows the woman purchasing chocolate while wearing a black wig, as well as an image from her arrest. 

The Easter eggs arrived at the home of her ex’s new partner, Mirian Lira, who then shared the chocolate with her two children, according to People, who reported the story.

The 32-year-old mother is believed to have been the target of the attack, with a note accompanying the fatal delivery that read: “With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter.” 

Upon consuming the chocolate, Mirian’s seven-year-old son, Luis Silva, became “immediately” ill, with his father having to administer CPR.  The boy was rushed to hospital but passed away. 

The 13-year-old daughter, Evelyn Silva, died five days later. Doctors say her death was caused by vascular shock linked to multiple organ failure.

Mirian remains in hospital in a stable condition and is said to be responding well to treatment.

Both of the children died after eating poisoned Easter eggs. Image: Globo

RELATED: Bondi Junction attack's ‘sleep mask dad’ speaks out

Police say alleged poisoning was "barbaric"

Authorities moved quickly, arresting Jordélia Pereira Barbosa at a bus stop the day after the attack.

“The evidence suggests, based on several points investigated, that the crime was motivated by revenge and 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,” security official Maurício Martins told Brazilian news outlet G1. 

"The police will continue working to strengthen this evidence and present her to the Judiciary to answer for this barbaric crime."

Investigators have obtained receipts showing purchases of the chocolate eggs, wigs, scissors, suspected drugs, and a saw knife.

The leftover chocolate is undergoing testing to determine the poison used. 

Originally published as Two children die after eating deliberately poisoned Easter eggs