Revealed: The unlikely-sounding cause of death of poison Christmas cake cook’s wealthy husband… months before her creation killed three of her relatives

The wealthy husband of a woman being investigated after an ‘arsenic-laced’ Christmas cake she baked killed three of her family died after eating a banana, his family say.

Paulo Dos Anjos, 66, passed away in September with his death being put down to food poisoning.

Now authorities in Brazil want to exhume his body after his wife Zeli made a ‘poisoned’ Christmas cake for a family party on December 23 that left three of her relatives dead.

Paulo’s cousin Marcos Dos Anjos has told MailOnline that he believes Paulo died after eating a contaminated banana.

He said Paulo and Zeli lived in Canoas before their house was devastated by floods in May, which left almost 200 people dead when rivers burst their banks after days of heavy rain.

At the time army units were brought in to remove hundreds of large barrels containing chemicals that swept through Canoas.

After their house became flooded, the couple moved to their second home by the sea some 100 miles away in Arroio do Sal, near Torres.

Before they left, Marcos said, they dug up a banana tree from their back garden and replanted it in their new home.

Zeli made the ‘arsenic-laced’ cake for her family on December 23 – but the cake killed her two sisters and her niece. Zeli remains in hospital along with her great nephew aged 10 

This is the Christmas cake made by Zeli that left three of her family dead on December 23

His theory is that the tree became contaminated with the chemicals – and pots and pans Zeli used to bake the Christmas cake may have also been affected.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Marcos, 74, said: ‘Paulo and Zeli lived in Canoas until their home became flooded in May.

‘When the floods came they moved all of their belongings in Arroio do Sal to their other house including a banana tree they took with them as well and planted it in the garden.

‘Then in early September Paulo and Zeli were both taken to hospital after eating bananas.

‘I was told it was bananas from the tree in the garden. Then we heard that Paulo had died, but Zeli got better and was discharged from hospital.

‘They said he died because the banana had given him food poisoning. I know it seems strange, especially now with what has happened over the cake.

‘I’m sure Zeli wouldn’t do anything on purpose, we are all very close and Matheus is her nephew and he’s only ten.

‘I can only think that somehow when the place was flooded the banana tree was also contaminated and maybe so were some of the pots and pans, Zeli used for the cake.’

Another relative who asked not to be named, told MailOnline: ‘When the floods came through the factories and chemical plants were badly hit and containers were washing up along the streets.

‘We were told there was no danger and everything was being properly handled by the army, but now after the cake and Paolo’s death in September from the banana we are beginning to think there is some connection.

‘The stocks of raw materials were all lost and ended up in the water and this could easily have contaminated the soil and any pots and pans it touched especially if these chemical plants used arsenic.

Paulo’s cousin Marcos Dos Anjos says that Paulo died after eating a contaminated banana six months ago. He said that water contaminated by chemicals flooded his cousin’s home when a river burst its banks in May. Paulo dug up a banana tree from his garden and moved it into his new home. In September Paulo ate a banana and died, it is claimed  

Zeli and her family are pictured here posing with the same fruit cake topped with cherries that poisoned her relatives this Christmas – from another gathering three years ago in 2021

Zeli’s sister Neuza (pictured) died after eating the cake while her husband Joao Dos Anjos (pictured) was the only member of the party not to eat the treat

Zeli’s other sister Maida da Silva, 58 (pictured) also died after having the traditional cake

This is the apartment block where the family had their event and ate the Christmas cake

Detectives bagged up ingredients from Zeli’s home and took them for forensic examination

‘We just don’t think Zeli would have done this deliberately, and for what reason would she? It’s just a tragic accident.’

The floods six months ago also affected the airport at Porto Alegre with the runway under several feet of water and more than 540,000 people had to be evacuated.

Zeli is under investigation after the cake she made for her family killed her sisters Maida da Silva, 58, and Neuza Dos Anjos, 65, and Neuza’s daughter Tatiana Dos Santos, 43.

The Brazilian authorities later revealed traces of deadly arsenic were found in their bodies.

Zeli remains in hospital after eating two pieces of the cake along with her 10-year-old great nephew Matheus.

Maida’s husband Jefferson had a few bites and was then violently sick.

The only person at the party not to eat the cake was Neuza’s husband Joao.

Marcos described his uncle Paulo as middle-class, whose income as a successful fisherman allowed his wife Zeli to stay at home and raise their only son.

When Paulo retired, the couple enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle owning two properties – their main residence in Canoas and a second home, their beachside property some 100 miles south in Arroio do Sal.

Last week police said ‘arsenic’ was found in the blood of the three women who died although this has not been officially confirmed with authorities at the Brazilian Forensic Crime lab saying ‘tests are still ongoing’.

Arsenic is a chemical compound used primarily in heavy industry for making car batteries but also pesticides, insecticides and herbicides.