Police Officer's Haunting Final Plea Before Mysterious Death
Military police officer Gisele Santana, aged 32, was discovered deceased with a gunshot wound to the head last Wednesday in the São Paulo apartment she shared with her husband. The tragic incident occurred merely days after she sent a desperate message to her father, pleading, "Dad, come and get me because I can't take it anymore." Emergency services attended the scene but pronounced her dead upon arrival.
Initial Suicide Ruling Now Deemed Suspicious
Authorities initially treated the death as a suspected suicide, but the case has since been reclassified as suspicious following allegations against her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Geraldo Leite Rosa Neto. Gisele's family contends she endured prolonged psychological abuse, coercive control, and repeated physical threats from her spouse after their marriage in 2024.
Her aunt recounted to reporters, "She was a well-cared-for, well-treated girl; she was a happy girl. But after she got together with him, we saw her joy just fade away." Family members describe a dramatic change in Gisele's behaviour post-wedding, noting she became isolated from relatives and lived under strict rules imposed by her controlling husband.
Allegations of Abuse and Controlling Behaviour
The restrictions reportedly included bans on wearing revealing clothing or makeup, along with harsh limitations on her social interactions. Additionally, the family claims Gisele's seven-year-old daughter witnessed her mother suffering repeated psychological abuse within the home.
In contrast, Lieutenant Colonel Neto provided a statement to police alleging that a dispute erupted when he expressed a desire for separation. He claims that after the argument, he went to shower and subsequently heard a gunshot, finding Gisele bleeding from the head while holding his firearm.
Family Disputes Husband's Account
Gisele's relatives vehemently reject this version of events, asserting that she was the one planning to seek a divorce. They reveal that several days prior to her death, she phoned her father requesting assistance to leave the apartment but ultimately decided to remain.
Further allegations include that Neto sent Gisele a threatening video in which he pointed a gun at his own head. Moreover, he reportedly asked police to return to the flat to shower after Gisele's death, a request initially denied before being granted.
Forensics and Femicide Investigation
Local media reports indicate that a forensics analysis of the bullet's trajectory will be crucial to the ongoing investigation. Gisele had served with the police force for several years and was preparing to assume a new role at the Military Court of Justice at the time of her death.
Her family is actively campaigning for the case to be investigated under Brazil's gender-based femicide law, highlighting the broader issue of domestic violence. The haunting last message underscores the urgency of addressing psychological abuse and coercive control in relationships.
