Man, 53, arrested after wife, stepchildren & brother-in-law killed by ‘rat poison laced rice dinner’

A 53-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with the tragic deaths of his wife, stepchildren and brother-in-law after they were poisoned while having a New Year’s Day meal.

Francisco Pereira was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in Parnaiba, Brazil, just a week after he allegedly contaminated the family’s rice.

Francisco Pereira was taken into custody on Wednesday morning in Parnaiba

Journo Nacional/Personal Archive

One-year-old Igno Davi da Silva died on Thursday[/caption]

Reproduction/TV Globo

Police reportedly said that tests showed leftover rice the family had consumed contained a pesticide used to kill rats and other rodents[/caption]

Cops revealed that the suspect’s chilling motivation may have been Pereira having anger towards his wife and her two children.

Piauí Civil Police chief Abimael Silva said at a press conference following the arrest: “He revealed, as did his stepdaughters, that the relationship between them was troubled, to say the least.

“He did not speak to any of his wife’s children and had a specific feeling of hatred towards Francisca Maria, the children’s mother.”

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