Wadala man gave his kids poisoned sweets for painless death’

S Ahmed Ali TNN

Mumbai: A day after four members of a family were found dead at their Wadala home, investigators believe that Donato Anthony (49) forced his children to eat poison-laced chocolates to ensure their deaths were painless. “It seems that Donato first poisoned his children and wife before committing suicide,” said an officer.
    On Monday, partly decomposed bodies of Donato, his wife Elizabeth (45), son Jason (12) and daughter Vivenne (4) were found in flat number 501 of 11-storeyed Odyessey Tower at Bhakti Park. Two cans of an unknown acid, lots of chocolates laced with poison, two empty juice bottles, an unpaid electricity bill of Rs 34,000, an unpaid medical bill of Rs 6,000 and documents pertaining to the flat as well as loan were found in the flat.
    The bodies were sent for postmortem and the reports are still awaited. Deputy commissioner of police (Zone 4) Dattatray Karale said, “The doctors have preserved the viscera and the chemical analysis report is awaited. But prima facie, they have not found any external injuries on any of the bodies. As of now, we have not found any foul play in the deaths.”
    Investigators also believe that Donato had planned the murders and his suicide well in advance. On March 16, Donato sent a text message to his nephew Gracious, saying his life was in danger and that he should call the cops if he finds anything suspicious. However, Gracious did not inform his father Anil about the message. “We are probing why Gracious did not inform the police or his father,” said ACP Rajput. When TOI called up Anil, he refused to talk.
    The police have learnt that Donato used to work as a video editor in a film-editing firm but lost his job in 2007. The same year, he bought a 550 sq ft flat in Odyessey Tower from Kashmira Zaveri for Rs 36 lakh through an estate agent, Chetan Shah. Donato paid Rs 20 lakh and took possession of the flat, and promised to pay the rest in a few months. But two of Donato’s cheques were dishonoured, Shah told the police. “Kashmira then returned his Rs 20 lakh and sold the flat to Naveen Narale. Donato first requested Kashmira to give him a few days to vacate the flat, but later refused to do so,” said Shah.