Soldier confesses to stabbing and setting fire to Army corporal

Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos, a corporal in the Brazilian Army, died at the age of 25 in an arson attack in the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment (RCGd) in the Federal District last Friday (5). According to information from the Army, soldier Kelvin Barros da Silva, 21, confessed to the murder and is being held in the Brasília Army Police Battalion. He will answer in court for the crimes of femicide, firearm theft, arson and procedural fraud.

According to information from the Civil Police of the Federal District, the incident occurred around 4 pm, when the team from the 2nd DP of Brasília was called about the occurrence of a fire with a fatal victim with apparent injuries. The authorities went to the scene, requested expertise and began investigations and removed the body to the Legal Medical Institute (IML).

“He confessed that, during an argument motivated by demands from the victim, he took possession of a standard military knife and dealt a deep blow to the victim’s neck. After the crime, the perpetrator set the place on fire using alcohol and a lighter that was in his pocket. After setting the place on fire, he collected his belongings and left the place, heading towards his city”, the Civil Police said in a note.

The Brazilian Army, through its Social Communication Center, reported that a Military Police Inquiry (IPM) was launched to clarify the circumstances of the fire and death of Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos. Kelvin remains detained while he responds to criminal proceedings and must “be excluded from the ranks of the Force and held responsible for the act committed”, highlights the institution.

“The Brazilian Army provides full support to the family and deeply regrets the loss of Corporal Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos and reiterates its position of not supporting criminal acts and rigorously punishing those responsible”, concludes the statement.

*With information from Estadão Conteúdo