Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case – An Upcoming True Crime Documentary

Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case is an eagerly awaited true crime documentary that will be available for streaming on Netflix from December 22, 2023. The documentary’s trailer was released on December 13, 2023, providing a tantalizing glimpse into the perplexing Koodathayi Cyanide Case, a series of six homicides that took place between 2002 and 2016.

Jolly Joseph, the primary suspect in the Koodathayi Cyanide Case, was officially arrested by the police on October 5, 2019. While she was suspected and later accused of all six murders, it was the deaths of her father-in-law, Tom Thomas, and her husband’s uncle, Matthew Manjadiyil, that directly led to her arrest. Tom’s son, Rojo, filed a complaint suspecting foul play.

Interestingly, these deaths were not initially recognized as murders until 2019, when Rojo Thomas became suspicious about his father’s demise. Joseph’s mother-in-law passed away due to a mysterious illness, followed by the deaths of her father-in-law, her husband, and her husband’s uncle, all attributed to heart attacks. Subsequently, her two-year-old niece was found dead after choking on her food, and her mother also collapsed and died. Joseph then entered into a marriage with Sakhariyas.

Despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding these deaths, no formal investigations were conducted until Rojo discovered a new version of his father’s will. The revised will left the family property to Joseph. When Rojo voiced his suspicions, he faced strong resistance from the extended family, who had been convinced by Jolly Joseph’s carefully constructed image and the trust she had built over the years.

How Was Jolly Joseph Caught?

The critical evidence that incriminated Jolly Joseph was a pattern of inconsistencies in her statements regarding each death, which were contradicted by scientific findings. Furthermore, Joseph’s dishonesty extended to other aspects of her life. She had managed to convince her neighbors, family, and even her own sons that she was a professor at NIT, Kozhikode, and left for work every morning. However, upon investigation, it was revealed that Joseph had never worked there.

The post-mortem examination of Joseph’s husband, Roy Thomas, revealed that he had died as a result of cyanide poisoning, while Joseph had claimed it was a heart attack. CNN reported that the police discovered around 50 discrepancies in Joseph’s statements and other evidence. Her ability to deceive her family and friends for over 14 years made it highly probable that there were more significant acts of malpractice.

When the evidence against her began to accumulate, Jolly Joseph ultimately confessed to poisoning and killing six of her family members. Her motive, she revealed, was to gain control over the family’s assets. Although the cause of Roy Thomas’ death was confirmed as cyanide poisoning through the post-mortem examination, Jolly Joseph allegedly used her influence in the town to ensure the immediate cremation of the other victims, as reported by CNN.

Where Is Jolly Joseph Now?

Jolly Joseph is currently being held at the Kozhikode district prison in Kerala. However, the court has yet to reach a final verdict in her case. The shocking revelations and implications of her crimes, in contrast to the image she had carefully crafted, have garnered widespread media attention.

Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case promises to provide an in-depth exploration of Jolly Joseph’s crimes and the subsequent investigation. This highly anticipated true crime documentary will be available for streaming on Netflix starting from December 22, 2023.