A law student suspected of multiple murders took the initiative to contact the police, possibly in an attempt to manipulate the ongoing investigations.
Ana Paula Veloso, aged 36, is accused of poisoning Neil Correa da Silva, a pensioner, in Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using a toxic bean stew. Authorities believe that the victim’s daughter, Michele Paiva da Silva, was involved in planning the murder, as evidenced by incriminating text messages.
Investigators have noted that the suspect strategically positioned herself in various roles in police reports, such as a complainant, witness, or even a supposed victim, with the aim of distorting the investigation and diverting attention away from herself. An investigator remarked that she took pleasure in distorting the truth, fabricating events, creating false threats, and enlisting the police to support her deceptive narrative.
Concerns about Veloso’s behavior were raised when she reported to the Military Police in January that her neighbor Marcelo Fonseca in Guarulhos was unresponsive in his home. It was later discovered that Marcelo had been poisoned days prior, and Veloso continued to reside in his house under the pretext of renting it.
Described as a “psychopath” and “serial killer,” Veloso allegedly received payment to carry out the crime. Her associate, Paiva da Silva, a 43-year-old law student and bus driver, was apprehended in Rio on the 8th of October.
Authorities suggest that there was a strained relationship between the father and daughter. Veloso and Paiva da Silva were reportedly present at the victim’s residence when he fell ill and was subsequently hospitalized.
During the investigation, police found a pesticide resembling lead at Veloso’s residence. Both Veloso and Paiva da Silva are currently under police custody. Chief Inspector Halisson Ideiao Leite disclosed that Veloso admitted to using the lethal bean stew to kill ten dogs as part of her testing process.
Leite further stated that Veloso’s twin sister, Roberta, has also been implicated in the case, allegedly aiding in Neil’s death. Police believe that Veloso and Paiva da Silva were responsible for multiple poisonings in Guarulhos, including Neil’s death, with Veloso poisoning four people as per Paiva da Silva’s instructions.
The crimes were committed between January and April of this year, with a recurring pattern of closeness, manipulation, and the use of poison as a silent weapon. Veloso initially came to the police’s attention when she claimed to have been the target of a cake poisoning attempt, which investigators now believe was a ploy to incriminate someone else.
Detectives are now investigating whether the duo had planned additional murders, emphasizing that Veloso’s actions were methodical rather than impulsive. Civil police officer Raphael Morais Velo, part of the investigation team, highlighted the calculated nature of Veloso’s alleged killings.