Brazilian Woman 'Coldly Confessed' to Killing Pregnant Teen, Cutting Baby Out of Womb and Claiming It as Her Own: Police

A Brazilian woman reportedly confessed to killing a 16-year-old pregnant girl and cutting her unborn child out of her womb, according to local authorities.

On Friday, March 14, the Civil Police of Mato Grosso announced that the woman “coldly confessed to the facts” in the killing of Emelly Beatriz Azevedo Sena, who was nine months pregnant.

Emelly’s body was discovered buried in the backyard of a home in the Jardim Florianópolis neighborhood of Cuiabá on March 13, the day after she was reported missing. Police said the suspect had plans to keep the teenager’s baby.

Authorities said the suspect will be charged with the crimes of triple-qualified homicide (vile motive, cruel means and means that prevented the victim from defending herself), concealment of a corpse and registering someone else’s birth as her own.

Emelly left her home in Várzea Grande, just south of Cuiabá, and was lured to the suspect’s brother’s home in Jardim Florianópolis “with promises of clothing donations,” authorities said in a press release, which was translated from Portuguese.

The suspect and her husband later showed up to the Santa Helena Maternity Hospital with the baby and told hospital staff that the newborn was born at home.

Hospital staff became suspicious when the woman showed no signs of a recent birth or pregnancy. After gynecological and laboratory tests were performed, staff determined that the woman did not recently give birth. She also was found to not be producing breast milk when she tried to breastfeed the child.

Hospital staff called police to investigate, which ultimately led them to the confession and the discovery of Emelly’s body in a shallow grave at the suspect’s brother’s home.

“The victim’s belly was open, indicating a situation of forced labor, in addition to showing signs of hanging, strangulation and asphyxiation,” according to authorities.

She had two plastic bags covering her head and internet cables wrapped around her neck, hands and legs, authorities said.

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Authorities said the suspect’s brother and a friend were at the home when police arrived and questioned and released. The suspect’s husband was also questioned and released.

Police Chief Caio Fernando Alvares Albuquerque said authorities are continuing to investigate whether the suspect’s husband, brother and friend were involved in any way with the death and burial.

“The investigations continue, and all information is being checked to find evidence that may indicate the participation of other people in the execution of the victim,” he said. “Those whose participation was identified will be duly identified as having participated in the crime.”

Emelly’s mother, Ana Paula Meridiane told g1 that “I didn’t just lose a daughter, I lost a friend, partner and companion. Only those who lived with her know how wonderful her heart was.”