Man allegedly put terbufós, a highly toxic chemical, in family members’ food
The Piauí Civil Police arrested Francisco de Assis Pereira da Costa, 53 years old, this Wednesday (8 January 2025), suspected of poisoning on January 1st. The man would have been responsible for putting poison in a two-bath, consumed by his family.
The group was having lunch at the residence, located in the city of Parnaíba, when symptoms of poisoning began. The suspect was also rescued after eating the food, but was discharged the same day.
The research concluded that the substance used was terbufós, a highly toxic chemical used in pesticides and in the composition of pellets. Its sale is prohibited in Brazil. When ingested, the poison attacks the central nervous system, which causes convulsions and shortness of breath and abdominal pain.
Here are the dead:
- Manoel Leandro da Silva, 18 years old (Francisco’s stepson)
- Francisca Maria da Silva, 32 years old (Francisco’s stepdaughter)
- 1 year old child (son of Francisca Maria)
- 3 year old child (daughter of Francisca Maria)
Here are the other victims:
- 4 year old child (daughter of Francisca Maria) – hospitalized in Teresina;
- 17 year old teenager (Manoel’s sister) – was discharged;
- Maria Jocilene da Silva, 32 years old (neighbor) – was discharged;
- 11 year old child (son of Maria Jocilene) – was discharged.
