A 17-year-old girl has been apprehended by authorities for allegedly tampering with meals meant 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 teenager confessed to the act, revealing that she did it out of anger after a disagreement with her family over her romantic relationship.
The poisonous substance, typically used to kill rodents, was found in three meals prepared by the girl’s mother for her parents and cousin. The cousin detected an unusual texture in the food, prompting him to stop eating and alert his family. Fortunately, the parents did not consume the contaminated meals.
According to Major Renato Geraldo da Silva of the Military Police, the girl admitted to taking the poison from a container inside the house and adding it to the food. The authorities seized the meals for forensic analysis to confirm the presence of the toxic substance. The cousin received medical treatment and is in stable condition.
The girl, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently in custody as the investigation continues. In a separate incident in Australia, a woman was convicted of poisoning three family members with death cap mushrooms, resulting in triple murder. The convicted woman received a lengthy prison sentence and won’t be eligible for parole until 2056.