Daughter of Brazilian congressman is stabbed to death as estranged husband is arrested at farm house
The daughter of a Brazilian congresswoman was stabbed to death in her home on Friday, according to a Mato Grosso state law enforcement official.
Raquel Cattani, 26, was found by her father, Gilberto Cattani, deputy of the state of Mato Grosso, in one of the rooms of her home in the rural town of Pontal de Marape.
Her husband, Ramiro Xavier, was arrested when he arrived at the house and told police he was not involved in the murder.
César Roveri, secretary of state security for Mato Gross, spoke to reporters to confirm that Raquel Cattani died in a stabbing attack, after reports that she had been shot dead.
The farmhouse was ransacked and her cell phone was missing. A motorcycle was also stolen.
Raquel Cattani, the daughter of Brazilian Congressman Gilberto Cattani, was stabbed to death in her farmhouse on Friday morning. The 26-year-old is survived by two children: a three-year-old girl and a six-year-old son
Roveri said military police were involved in the search for the motorcycle and suspects, and a surveillance helicopter was also deployed to assist with the mission.
News channel Metropoles reported that Raquel Cattani and Ramiro Xavier were in the process of arranging their divorce.
The young woman owned a company that produced artisanal cheeses in the municipality of Nova Mutum.
The company won a gold medal and a super gold medal at the 2024 Brazilian Cheese World Championship, held in São Paulo in April.
Ramiro Xavier visited the home of his estranged wife, Raquel Cattani, after she was found dead and taken into custody. He was to be questioned by Civil Police detectives
Raquel Cattani with her daughter and father, Mato Grosso Congressman Gilberto Cattani
Raquel Cattani owned a company that produced artisanal cheeses. It won gold and super gold medals at the Brazilian Cheese World Championship in April
Raquel Cattani is survived by two children, a three-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy. It is unknown if the children were alive at the time of the crime.
Congressman Cattani has not yet made any public comment on his daughter’s murder.
Mato Grosso Governor Mauro Mendes regretted the murder of Raquel Cattani.
“We received the news of the death of the daughter of our friend (Gilberto) Cattani and I immediately ordered our security forces to clarify what happened,” Mendes said in a statement.
“A shocking death, even more so for a father. Virginia and I pray that God will give strength and comfort to the deputy sheriff and his entire family.”