The body of a “Human Barbie” influencer has been exhumed in a bid to determine if she was strangled to death.
Bárbara Jankavski Marquez was taken from her resting place on Tuesday (3 Feb) after prosecutors challenged a report that her death was caused by a heart attack linked to cocaine use.
They claim injuries on her neck are consistent with mechanical asphyxiation and requested a court-ordered exhumation for further forensic tests.
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Authorities specifically want X-rays of her neck to check for broken bones, as well as DNA testing under her nails to see if she attempted to defend herself.
Bárbara, 31, died in São Paulo, Brazil, on 2 November last year, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Police found her lifeless in her underwear, with marks across her face and body, at the home of taxpayer-funded lawyer Renato De Vitto.
Investigators initially ruled her death accidental, finding no link between her injuries and any possible assault.
Two friends – one of Bárbara’s, one of De Vitto’s – were present at the time.
Both prosecutors and Bárbara’s parents’ lawyers want them investigated.
The pair and De Vitto were previously questioned only as witnesses.
De Vitto’s friend told police she saw Bárbara fall and injure herself.
De Vitto maintains he hired Bárbara as an escort.
He claims they both used cocaine, she fell asleep, and never woke up.
He says he performed CPR for nine minutes before paramedics arrived and pronounced her dead at the scene.
A provisional deadline for the final report has been set for early March, though the body’s state of decomposition may complicate the investigation.
Bárbara, who called herself the “Inhuman Doll”, had hundreds of thousands of followers online.
Media dubbed her the “Human Barbie” due to her extreme cosmetic transformations.
She documented her surgeries on social media, giving tips to followers considering surgery.
Over the years, she spent more than 300,000 BRL (£41,800) on at least 27 procedures, including liposuction on her neck, stomach and legs; breast and buttock implants; eyebrow lifts; and five nose jobs to achieve a slimmer, upturned look.
She also appeared on television and starred in a Burger King ad campaign in 2024.
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