Ana Luiza Mateus Souza was found on Wednesday morning (22) after falling from a building in Barra da Tijuca, in the west zone of the capital
Image: Reproduction/ Social Networks
The man arrested in the act on suspicion of feminicide against Ana Luiza Mateus Souza, aged 30, was found dead in the cell where he was detainedon the night of this Wednesday (22), in Rio de Janeiro. The suspect, Address Lincoln Ferreira da Cunhawas also 30 years old.
The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police investigates the death of the model and influencer, found in the morning after falling from a building in Barra da Tijuca, in the west of the capital. The victim was Miss Bahia and represented the state in this year’s Miss Cosmo Brasil contest.
In a statement, the corporation informed that it “continues to adopt all necessary measures to completely clarify the facts”.
The case was registered as feminicide and is being investigated by the Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC). According to the Military Police, agents were called to an incident of domestic violence in a condominium on Avenida Lúcio Costa. According to initial information gathered from witnesses, the couple had fought on Tuesday night. Around 5am, neighbors and employees reportedly heard a noise that sounded like the fall.
“The main suspect is the victim’s companion. He was arrested and taken to the Homicide Police Station,” said the PM.
The Civil Police stated that the Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC) was called and is investigating the death of Ana Luiza Mateus Souza. “A man was taken to the police station and arrested for feminicide. Efforts are underway to investigate the circumstances of the crime.”
According to the delegate responsible for the case, Renato Martins, a series of witness reports indicate that the model’s boyfriend was the perpetrator of the crime. “There was a very abusive relationship between them, with a heated argument a few days ago. This morning, there was a kind of war between them, which was heard by neighbors and condominium employees“, said the delegate, in an interview with TV Globo.
“In addition, there are messages exchanged between the victim and relatives, friends and the perpetrator himself. All of these elements converge to the understanding that the perpetrator is a participant in this criminal action, in this femicide committed against this young woman”, he added. According to Martins, the suspect still altered the crime scene and confessed that he pushed Ana Luiza.
“He, first, altered the crime scene. According to reports, he tried to leave through the back door, he appears crying, but moving his body. This cannot be done. It is a violation of procedural evidence”, he said. “He was unhealthy jealous of her, whether for her beauty, her good relationships or her friendships and, because of this, he ends up saying that he is guilty.”
The CEO of Miss Cosmo Brasil, Fabrício Granito, mourned the death of Ana Luiza and said that the event organizers received the information with “sadness and consternation”.
Granito described the model as a young woman on the rise, “who was building, with effort and talent, her trajectory in the Miss universe”. He also stated that the case “calls for an urgent reflection on violence against women in Brazil”.
“Femicide cannot be treated as statistics or routine. It is a reality that needs to be faced with seriousness, commitment and collective action”, he stated.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
