A 17-year-old girl has been apprehended by authorities for allegedly contaminating meals prepared for her parents and cousin with a toxic substance known as chumbinho. The incident took place in Nova Serrana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on January 7. The girl reportedly admitted to adding the poison to the food after a disagreement with her parents. The substance, typically used to eradicate rodents, was found in the meals meant for her 35-year-old mother, 41-year-old father, and 36-year-old cousin.
According to Major Renato Geraldo da Silva, a spokesperson for the Military Police, the girl’s actions stemmed from her parents’ disapproval of her romantic relationship. She took the meals prepared by her mother and spiked them with the poisonous substance in retaliation. The cousin detected an unusual texture in the food, prompting him to stop eating and alert his relatives. The parents refrained from consuming the contaminated meals, and the cousin sought medical assistance, undergoing treatment and remaining in stable condition.
The girl, whose identity remains undisclosed, was taken into custody by the Civil Police. Samples of the tainted food and the toxic substance were gathered for further analysis. Authorities confirmed the detention of the teenager, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
In a separate incident in Australia, a woman was convicted of murdering three family members by serving them a lethal meal containing death cap mushrooms. The convicted woman, Erin Patterson, received multiple life sentences and additional years in prison for the crime. Her actions gained international attention due to the severity of the poisoning incident.