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 his birth name, Elson Nascimento de Lima, 34, was murdered in the Jacutinga neighborhood of Jataí, in the state of Goiás, early Monday morning.
According to the Municipal Civil Guard of Río Verde, the authorities went to the scene around 1 in the morning after reports from neighbors who heard the victim’s screams. Firefighters were initially sent to the scene, but upon arrival found a naked man inside the property who appeared injured and refused help.
Police later 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 that he had invited her to consume the substances with him.
However, an argument allegedly ensued over the price of drugs, which led to a physical altercation. During the confrontation, the suspect admitted to stabbing the victim in the neck, causing his death. After the murder, he allegedly attempted to dismember her body while he was still naked, before law enforcement arrived.
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 debate about violence against transgender people in Brazil, a country with a worrying history of violence against LGBTQ+ people. Investigators continue 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 brutality of the crime. “This level of violence is unimaginable,” said one neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous. The suspect remains in custody as authorities continue their investigation.