A dad-of-one is accused of killing his girlfriend in a heated row before local kids found her body in a dumped suitcase.
Atílio Ferreira da Silva is suspected of stabbing Jane de Araújo Lima to death two weeks ago.
He allegedly placed her corpse in the case the following day and kept it in their home for six days.
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During this time, he reportedly cleaned all the rooms in the house in Praia Grande near São Paulo, Brazil, in an attempt to conceal the crime.
It is believed that the 49-year-old suspect then dumped the suitcase in a vacant lot before fleeing to São Paulo.
The body of the victim, identified as Jane de Araújo Lima, was found by three children playing in the area last Thursday (4 Sept).
The suitcase was locked with a padlock, but the code was written on a piece of paper found nearby.
Curious, the children opened the suitcase and discovered Jane’s body wearing only a pair of shorts.
Businessman Ivanildo Cardoso da Silva witnessed the scene.
He said the children were left in shock, and that the body appeared to have stab wounds and broken limbs.
The suspect returned to Praia Grande to stay at his daughter’s house the next day.
Investigators searched the couple’s home three days later.
Atílio was placed under arrest on Tuesday (9 Sept) after he went to the police station to clarify some details of his statement.
But officers had already confirmed the presence of blood traces in the couple’s home and had organised an arrest warrant, as reported by Need To Know.
According to police chief Luiz Ricardo de Lara, the suspect initially denied any involvement in his partner’s death but opened up when he was presented with the evidence, including the alleged murder weapon.
In a statement to the police, Atílio reportedly confessed to killing Jane in self-defence during a heated argument.
He claimed she tried to stab him in the chest with the knife and that he managed to seize it from her.
The police chief said the results of forensic tests on the victim’s body and the knife are still pending.
A judge ordered the suspect to remain in custody during a hearing yesterday (10 Sept).
The investigation continues.
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