A pregnant woman was burned alive in a car by a group including her married lover, who is said to be father of her unborn child.
24-year-old Ellen Priscila Ferreira da Silva was four months pregnant when she and 39-year-old Ely Carlos were tied up to a car and torched in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Family members later identified their charred remains, as well as the burned car that belonged to da Silva’s mother.
Investigator Paulo de Tarso said in an interview that four suspects have been arrested, including the father of da Silva’s unborn child.
“It was a premeditated and very cruel crime,” he said.
Two of the suspects – a 19-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman – have already confessed to the crime.
“One of the suspects even personally comforted the victim’s mother after her death was confirmed,” the investigator said.
“The victim was four months pregnant by one of the suspects, who is married,” he added.
“His wife, who confessed, and who is also pregnant, knew.”
The authorities are still investigating the motive behind the horrific attack.
“Ellen and Ely Carlos may have been in debt to a drug dealer who was also arrested,” de Tarso said.
“Another point is that Ellen refused to abort the child conceived in the extramarital relationship.”
The 38-year-old man, who was believed to be the father of Ellen’s unborn child, is also believed to be the main suspect.
Initially, he said that he had also been attacked and pretended to faint to avoid being burnt alive.
However, he allegedly confessed that he made the story up, and self-inflicted his wounds under the effect of drugs while confirming that he knew the victims.
Police are also investigating whether anyone else was involved in the incident.
“There is a fifth suspect of involvement, a teenager who has already been identified. He had the same role as the 19-year-old, that is, throwing gasoline on the victims,” the police said.