Police in the southern region of Brazil continue to search for the missing head of a 65-year-old woman who was brutally murdered and dismembered. The victim, Brasília Costa, was allegedly killed by her 66-year-old partner, Ricardo Jardim, in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. The investigation into the murder began when the victim’s torso was discovered inside a suitcase at the city’s bus station on August 20. Jardim was apprehended in September, with authorities claiming the crime occurred on August 9, allegedly driven by financial motives as Jardim attempted to use Ms. Costa’s credit cards.
Jardim, an advertising executive, had previously served a 28-year sentence starting in 2018 for the murder of his mother, concealing her body in concrete. He was released in 2024 under a semi-open prison regime.
The lead investigator, Mario Souza, expressed optimism about finding the victim’s head, stating that despite the increasing difficulty each day, efforts to locate it continue. The suspect will not be enlisted to aid in the search due to previous instances of providing false information that impeded investigations.
Despite Jardim’s claim that he disposed of the victim’s head in a particular area, no discoveries were made after extensive searches. The Public Defender’s Office representing Jardim has opted to reserve comments for court proceedings.
Should the victim’s head remain unrecovered in the near future, authorities plan to conclude the investigation and formally charge Jardim with murder. Police believe Jardim initially disposed of parts of the victim’s body in a secluded area without surveillance cameras on August 13.
Further details revealed that Jardim left a suitcase at the bus station on August 20, an area under surveillance, before traveling to the North Zone, visiting commercial establishments, and staying at an inn. Security footage identified him as the individual who removed his mask at the bus station.
The victim’s torso was found by station personnel on September 1, with her legs discovered in two separate locations in the city’s South Zone on subsequent days. Forensic reports are being prepared for submission to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.