- Paula Janaína Ferreira Melo was lured to her killer’s apartment on Tuesday
A woman who allegedly slaughtered her heavily pregnant neighbor to cut her unborn baby from her womb so she could raise him, while her own child has been arrested by police.
Victim Paula Janaína Ferreira Melo, 25, was lured to her killer’s apartment in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Tuesday with the promise of a new stroller for her soon-to-be-born son.
But when she arrived, her 42-year-old neighbor allegedly killed her and cut out her fetus with a knife.
The alleged killer, who has not been named by police, then called ambulance crews to say she had just given birth alone at home.
She then shockingly smeared her legs and the floor with blood and placed the baby between her legs to make it look like she had just given birth, according to local media.
Paula Janaina Ferreira Melo, 25, was murdered after her neighbor allegedly slaughtered her and pulled her unborn baby from her womb
The unnamed killer has now been arrested by police. She reportedly lured her victim to her apartment before killing her. She planned to pass the baby off as her own
Police investigation chief Graziela Zanelli said: ‘She created a scene to show she had given birth in her room, with blood and the child between her legs.’
She was rushed to nearby Conceicao Hospital, where doctors pronounced the boy dead on arrival.
Suspicious doctors called police when tests showed the woman was not the baby’s mother.
According to local media reports, she has been arrested and is now facing two charges of murder and another charge of concealing a corpse.
The devious suspect had pretended to be pregnant for two months while she bonded with her would-be victim to find out exactly when she would give birth.
She planned to pass the baby off as her own.
Police found Paula’s body wrapped in plastic and hidden under a bed in her killer’s apartment.
Research lead Zanelli explained that she had tried to get pregnant in the past but was unsuccessful.
‘She made plans to take the child away on the same day as her birthday, October 14, and told all her family and friends that she was pregnant.’
Paula is survived by a seven-year-old daughter and was also the adoptive mother of her four-year-old niece.
The baby she was expecting would have been her first child with her current partner.
Her brother-in-law Bruno Lopes told local media: ‘My brother treated the two children as if they were his own daughters.
Paula Janaina Ferreira Melo, 25, poses with an unidentified child in an undated photo
‘But they were overjoyed at the idea of having their first biological child together.
“My brother is devastated.”
He told how Paula had already bought nappies, clothes and toys for her son, but was delighted to be offered a new pushchair for the toddler.
Her devious killer had approached her via Facebook and offered to help her with bills and even pay for a scan to ensure her fetus was healthy.
Bruno said: ‘She decided to pick it up from the killer’s house because it was close.
“But she was lured in and killed by a monster.”
Paula’s heartbroken mother Janaina Ferreira Melo told local media: ‘It’s diabolical. My daughter was innocent, seduced with gifts and then murdered.”
Judge Andre Vorraber Costa remanded the suspect into custody on Wednesday while the police investigation continues.