Woman Accused of Orchestrating Mother's Murder to Steal Child
A 21-year-old woman has been taken into custody in Brazil, suspected of ordering the cold-blooded murder of a young mother in a calculated bid to take her four-year-old daughter. Gabrielle Cristine Pinheiro Rosário presented herself at a police station in Sepetiba, Rio de Janeiro, on Monday, nearly a fortnight after the fatal shooting of Laís de Oliveira Gomes Pereira.
The Tragic Attack and Police Investigation
The victim, Laís de Oliveira Gomes Pereira, was pushing her 20-month-old son in his pram on Tuesday, November 4, when she was gunned down on a city street. Brazilian police swiftly launched an investigation, which uncovered a shocking motive. Authorities believe the killing was the result of a bitter dispute over the custody of Ms Pereira's elder child, her four-year-old daughter.
According to police, Rosário allegedly hired two men to carry out the execution. The hitmen are suspected of having been paid approximately 20,000 Brazilian Real, equivalent to around £3,000, for the crime. A police spokesperson stated that the case was now closed, citing compelling evidence. "There is no doubt that she ordered the crime based on the evidence we were able to collect: through testimonies, cell phone evidence, and from there we will request preventive detention," the spokesperson confirmed.
Obsessive Behaviour and a Mother's Betrayal
Investigators described Rosário's behaviour towards the young girl as "obsessive". They reportedly uncovered text messages that not only illustrated this fixation but also directly connected Rosário to the two arrested men. The messages allegedly showed her knowledge of Ms Pereira's precise movements in the moments leading up to the murder.
In a dramatic twist, it is understood that the mother of one of the alleged hitmen played a role in her son's apprehension. While Rosário's lawyer has claimed her client does not know the two men in custody, the evidence gathered by police paints a different picture.
Tributes to Laís de Oliveira Gomes Pereira remember her as a loving and devoted parent. Her tragic death leaves behind her two young children, the four-year-old daughter at the centre of this dispute and her infant son.
