VADAKARA: In a span of 14 years, six persons from an extended family died from what seemed to be natural causes, but after the case was reopened recently it has turned out to be the chilling handiwork of one woman, who poisoned them with potassium cyanide .

The special investigation team probing the sensational Koodathayi murders recorded the arrest of three persons on Saturday, including the prime accused Jollyamma Joseph (47) alias Jolly, wife of Roy Thomas (41), for the man's death.

According to police, though Jolly has admitted involvement in all

, the three accused have been arrested only in connection with the death of Roy as of now.

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They have been remanded in judicial custody. Police are carrying out the probe based on the call details of Jolly and other accused persons. Around a dozen people are under police scanner.

Roy was murdered in 2011; the other victims are Roy's mother Annamma (57) who died in 2002, his father Tom Thomas (66) in 2008 and uncle Mathew Manchadi (68) who died in 2014. Roy's cousin-brother Shaju's wife Sili (41) and their daughter Alphine (2) had died in 2016 and 2014, respectively. Till last week, the entire village had believed that the deaths had been natural.

Police reopened the investigation after Rojo Thomas, son of Tom Thomas and Annamma and Roy's brother, raised suspicions about the deaths after Jolly tried to get hold of the family property by faking the will of his parents.