A boyfriend has been arrested after a student was found dead with a broken neck.
Júlia de Paula Barbosa was discovered in her bedroom in the early hours of yesterday (5 Oct) by her mother, Jozi Maria de Paula.
The 20-year-old also had multiple other injuries.
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The family believes she was beaten and strangled.
Jozi told local media: “She was lying in bed, wearing a black jacket, completely bruised.
“Her face darkened all over, her hand broken, her foot broken.
“I can’t even describe it.
“When I touched her, she was cold, and I screamed that it couldn’t be true, that it wasn’t true.”
The tragedy took place at the family home in Cariacica, north east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as reported by Need To Know.
Júlia’s boyfriend, Aleff Wingler, 25, was arrested in Serra, north of Vitória, on Sunday (5 Oct) afternoon while trying to board a bus to São Mateus.
The couple had attended a party in nearby Viana on Saturday (4 Oct), after which Júlia’s father drove them home.
Júlia, who was studying architecture, also leaves behind a sister.
Her cousin, Jéssica, said: “She had such a bright future ahead of her – only 20 years old, studying, working, and striving for a better life.”
Her friend Maria Eduarda added: “I’ll love you forever.”
Police are treating the case as femicide.
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