Brazilian Teen Who Posed As Woman To Live With 62-Year-Old Woman Buried In Her Backyard SMILE As Arrested For Murder
- Leonardo Silva, 18, was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of Nilza Costa, 62, in Brazil
- The arrest comes after Costa was found buried in the backyard of her home on Monday; Silva lived in her house
- Authorities believe Silva planned the murder and suffocated Costa while she slept to steal money from her bank account
A teenager wanted for the alleged murder of a 62-year-old woman buried in her backyard has been arrested in Brazil.
Leonardo Silva was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon in Frutal, Minas Gerais, about 80 kilometers north of Nilza Costa’s home, in Barretos, São Paulo.
The 18-year-old suspect smiled for cameras as he was led out of the back of a police vehicle and escorted to a station.
He reportedly confessed to the crime after being apprehended by the Frutal military police, Brazilian outlet Tribuna Ribeirao reported.
Officers seized a motorcycle he allegedly bought with money stolen from Costa’s bank account. He also had her cell phone and government ID.
Barretos Civil Police Chief Rafael Faria said Silva lived in the back of Costa’s house and had told the victim he was female.
Leonardo Silva smiles for cameras as he was led to a police station in Brazil on Thursday. The 18-year-old was arrested in connection with the murder of Nilza Costa, a 62-year-old woman who was found buried in the backyard of her home on Monday. Police said Silva lived in the back of the victim’s house and may have killed her to steal money from her bank account
Nilza Costa was found dead in the garden of her home in São Paulo, Brazil, on Monday
“She would have welcomed this man to live in her house, for reasons yet to be determined,” Faria said. “At the moment he doesn’t present himself as a transvestite.”
Costa’s buried body was discovered Monday after a concerned neighbor noticed that the residence’s entrance gate was locked and they hadn’t seen her for a week.
The person alerted the civil police and visited the house with a police officer with a spare key that Costa had given them. Once inside, they walked to the yard and noticed that ground had broken away.
The neighbor and the cop checked the ground and made the gruesome discovery.
Another neighbor, identified as Pedro Florentino, recalled seeing a man sitting next to the gate of the property a week ago, according to Brazil’s G1.
Police believe Leonardo Silva choked Nilza Costa to gain access to her bank account. He allegedly bought a motorcycle with money he stole from the woman
Police search the garden of Nilza Costa’s house where she was found buried
He approached the person, who identified himself as her cousin and from the town of Planura in Minas Gerais.
Florentino knew something was wrong when he spoke to Costa’s family on Tuesday and was told she had no family in Planura.
Farias claimed that Silva may have strangled Costa while she slept.
“It is suspected that she died of suffocation,” Farias said. “Something that was initially found is that she could have been murdered while she was sleeping and then this man took her cell phone and wallet with bank cards.”
Silva will be held for 30 days, but his jail sentence could be extended for another 30 days or changed to pre-trial detention.