A 37-year-old man was arrested in Brazil after allegedly stabbing a trans woman to death and attempting to dismember her body. The victim, identified by her birth name, Elson Nascimento de Lima, 34, was killed in the Jacutinga neighborhood of Jataí, in the State of Goiás, early Monday morning.
According to the Municipal Civil Guard of Rio Verde, authorities were called to the scene around 1 a.m. following a report from neighbors who heard the victim’s cries. Firefighters were initially dispatched to the location, but upon arrival, they encountered a naked man inside the property who appeared injured and refused assistance.
Police subsequently entered the residence and discovered a scene of “extreme violence” with “a large amount of blood,” according to local news site G365. The suspect allegedly confessed to police that the victim had delivered drugs to his home, and he had invited her to consume the substances with him.
However, an argument reportedly ensued over the price of the drugs, escalating into a physical altercation. During the confrontation, the suspect admitted to stabbing the victim in the neck, resulting in her death. Following the killing, he allegedly attempted to dismember her body while still naked, prior to the arrival of law enforcement.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s name. The investigation revealed that the victim, originally from Rio de Janeiro, had short, curly hair and was described in local reports as a trans woman.
The case has sparked outrage and renewed discussions surrounding violence against transgender individuals in Brazil, a country with a troubling record of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. Investigators are continuing to piece together the events leading up to the incident and have not ruled out additional charges against the suspect.
Local residents have expressed shock and sadness at the brutal nature of the crime. “This level of violence is unimaginable,” said one neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous. The suspect remains in custody as authorities continue their investigation.