Note from BW of Brazil: Sad. Shameful. Disgusting. Heartless. Horrendous. Tragic. There are still more words that could be used to describe this horrific crime. The only thing we ask at this moment is: WHY??? Why was this necessary? What would lead a person to commit such an act? One can only imagine the emotional trauma of the family seeing someone endure nine months of pregnancy fully expecting to see her and the child come through only to get that close and have something so inconceivable happen. This is a follow up to the original reports that we presented earlier today. It is of course regrettable to see anyone take the life of another regardless of the race of either party, but as a site that tells the story of so many black Brazilian women, it is particularly difficult to see that both the victim and the killer are black women.
Civil Police already has three suspects of killing pregnant woman and ripping away baby
A man who bought supplies at a supermarket in the city and a couple who had a baby are being heard by the police chief
by Camilo José Vitor and Aline Diniz
Three people are in the Ponte Nova Police Station in the Zona da Mata, suspected of involvement in the death of Patrícia Xavier da Silva, 21, and 9 months pregnant who was missing since last Friday (26) and that was found dead with her belly opened and the baby snatched away on Tuesday (30). Among those detained are a couple was found with a newborn child. DNA tests will prove if the baby is the son of the victim.
O Tempo reporters are in the town to follow the development of research and talked to the chief of the homicides division Silvério Rocha Aguiar. He says that among those arrested are a man and a woman who had a baby. “The child may be the son of Patrícia, but only the DNA will prove this. The woman said the child’s name is Bernardo and denies it,” said the officer. The examination results should be ready within 30 days.
The police reached the third suspect after verifying the images of hospital security cameras where the victim last did exams. “Where the body was found they also found an invoice from a supermarket where they bought supplies. With the images on the property we can identify who made the purchase and find this other suspect,” said Aguiar.
The detainee confirms that he made the purchase and claims to have been asleep at the place where the body was found, but denies any involvement in the crime. Nevertheless, the chief has already ordered the detention of the suspect, depending now only on the approval of the Court.
From there the police officers made new searches and managed to find the couple with the baby, despite their relationship with the other suspect not being needed by the Civil Police. The suspect to be detained confirmed that she was with the victim, but denied any involvement in the cruel murder.
The chief didn’t need for her to ever have had involvement with the victim. The couple says the boy is their son, but this version doesn’t convince the police. “No line is ruled out, but there is nothing stronger than this suspect so far. We are still listening to the detainees,” said the chief.
Genetic parent material has been collected
Even on the morning of Wednesday, Patrícia’s companion, Leandro Carlos Gomes Dias, 30, went to the police station for collection of genetic material for inspection if the found child is actually his son. Besides him, several other family members and friends of the victim are also at the police station seeking answers about the crime.
“I’m speechless. I didn’t see who the people are, so there’s no way to tell if they are acquaintances. Not like anything two days ago, I almost didn’t sleep last night,” he said. Still according to Dias, the son was not planned, but in no time did the mother say she did not want the child.
“We had been living together for three days before her disappearance. Last night she asked me if I would go to the doctor with her and I told her to wake me up because I was very tired from working late. The next day when I woke up, she had already left and when I tried to call she had already not answered anymore,” he said.
The companion of the victim also reveals that it was a colleague who reported seeing Patrícia in the countryside, near Fazenda Estiva in the company of a woman a little taller than her. The denouncement led firefighters to the area where the body was found.
Patrícia’s mother, the domestic Ivânia Xavier da Silva Gonzaga, 37, said she believed the suspects are acquaintance. “I just really want the baby to be my grandson, because he was the only thing I have left of her. Patrícia was my eldest of five. If he really was, he will be my second grandchild. I was just relieved with only the possibility of it being him,” she said.
The possible grandmother of the child said her daughter was very quiet. “A quiet and very simple person; but that tranquility may have been what made her go with a person who did harm to her. She was very happy, set up the room and children’s clothes were ready to expect him,” lamented the women.
Remembering the case
Patrícia was buried late on Tuesday (30), around 7pm, in the town cemetery. The mood among residents was of much commotion, mainly due to the cruelty of the crime. See the original report here.
The victim and her husband, Leandro Gomes Dias, 30, had dated for seven years and lived together for six days. The missing baby, a boy, was the first child of the two.
The journalist Diego Siman, of Jornal Listão, says that he helped firefighters in locating the body. “We left early the barracks and went in the car with Patrícia’s mother and brother. We talked to locals and when we were leaving, at about 1:30pm, we decided to stop in this old laundromat. There we found some clothes, the family said they could be hers, an old stove and even a remnant of food that appeared to be new, at the maximum from one day to the next ,” he said.
At one point, Sergeant Clayton of the firemen had spoken to him about a water tank near the location. “The smell was already a bit strong and I helped him up. As soon as we pulled her head it fell on my foot. It was really a shock, I saw the torn belly. I have worked with police even in Rio de Janeiro, but never have I seen anything like this. It was a sight to upset anyone,” says the journalist.
Body was found in a water tank next to the abandoned laundromat
He, who said he wasn’t an expert, said he noticed that the cut where the baby was removed was done side to side below the belly, much like the surgical cut used in cesarean sections. “The city is all in a climate of commotion. But everyone wants to understand why, it is not known if it was to steal the child or what. I know that the climate is of lot of commotion, especially in the Cidade Nova neighborhood, where Patrícia and her family lived,” concluded Siman.
Woman confesses that she killed pregnant woman to steal baby in Ponte Nova
Child that is possibly daughter of the murdered pregnant woman, already in a secure and safe place; Police will make a re-enactment of the crime later on Wednesday
By Juliana Baeta and Aline Diniz
The suspect was found with a baby and was being heard by the police on Wednesday (1st) confessed to the murder of the pregnant Patrícia Xavier da Silva, 21. Gilmária Silva Patrocínio also admitted that she murdered the victim to steal the baby in her belly. The child is already in a safe place, according to the Civil Police, and out of risk.
During the testimony, the suspect, who had been seen with Patrícia on the day of the crime, had all her versions about the murder discredited by police. Finally, she decided to confess. Her temporary detention has been ordered.
Still on the afternoon of Wednesday, the chief of the homicides division, Silvério Rocha, accompanied by the regional chief of Ponte Nova, Iara Gomes, is in the Vale Verde neighborhood in Fazenda da Estiva, in the rural zone of Ponte Nova, where Patrícia’s body was found, so that the suspect reveal the details of the murder.
Rumors in the city reveal that Gilmária would have four children, but had her tubes tied for nine years. The information has not been confirmed by the police chief.
In the morning of Wednesday, police arrested three suspects in the crime, including Gilmária, who confessed around 3pm of the responsibility for the crime and the motive: he wanted to keep the baby. The child who was with her is in a safe place, according to the Civil Police.
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