Story By Marija Stojkoska /Harrisons
News Editor Ajda Ender /Harrisons
A police officer has been arrested at his wife’s wake on suspicion of killing her, just hours after he told investigators she had taken her own life with his gun.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses with husband Vinicius Costa Silva, 26, in undated photo. He was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
The arrest of 26-year-old Vinicius Costa Silva took place at the Cemiterio Valle dos Reis in Taboao da Serra, in Greater Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Monday, 7th September, a day after Larissa Cruz Morata was found dead.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses in undated photo. Her husband was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
Radiology technician Larissa, 29, was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head inside the bathroom of the home she shared with Vinicius and their two-year-old son in Embu das Artes.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses with husband Vinicius Costa Silva, 26, in undated photo. He was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
The firearm, which belonged to Silva, was found underneath her body and was seized along with its holster, magazine, ammunition and spent cartridge for forensic examination.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses in undated photo. Her husband was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
Silva told police that Larissa had killed herself after the couple discussed ending their relationship, and said he had gone to sleep before being woken by a loud noise.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses with husband Vinicius Costa Silva, 26, in undated photo. He was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
He said he then went to the bathroom and found Larissa on the floor before calling the police and reporting that she had shot herself.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses with husband Vinicius Costa Silva, 26, in undated photo. He was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
But investigators said there was “reasonable doubt” that the death was a suicide because of evidence gathered at the scene and the initial forensic findings.
Radiology technician Larissa Morata, 29, poses in undated photo. Her husband was arrested for her murder in Embu das Artes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Note: Private photo. (Harrisons)
One of the key points was the trajectory of the bullet through Larissa’s head, which investigators said raised questions about whether the injury could have been self-inflicted.
Picture shows Vinicius Costa Silva, 26, undated. He was arrested for his wife’s murder. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Harrisons)
Police requested tests for gunshot residue on both Larissa’s and Santos’s hands, along with a post-mortem examination, ballistic tests and further analysis of the scene to establish the position of the victim and firearm.
Detective Bruna Crippa said: “We could not immediately conclude that this was a case of suicide.”
She added that the trajectory of the projectile and other evidence gathered during the investigation led her to conclude that there were “elements of a crime”.
Larissa’s family has strongly rejected the suicide theory.
Her grandmother, Maria Aparecida Morata, said Larissa had plans for her future and was preparing to have cosmetic surgery later this month.
Maria said: “She had plans for life. She was going to have breast implants at the end of this month. She had an appointment.”
She also insisted that Larissa had not wanted to die, saying: “She did not kill herself. She would never do that.”
According to relatives, Larissa had spoken to her family shortly before her death and said she had ended her relationship with Santos and was preparing to leave the home with their son.
A relative told investigators that Larissa had called her grandmother between 8am and 9am and said they had separated and that she was packing to go to her grandmother’s house with the child.
The family has also alleged that Santos had previously behaved aggressively and tried to prevent relatives from visiting Larissa.
Santos’s lawyer has denied wrongdoing and maintained that the death was a suicide, describing it as “a tragedy deeply painful” for both families and saying forensic examinations would establish his client’s innocence.
In his statement to police, Santos said he no longer loved Larissa “as a wife” and wanted to “end the relationship”.
He said the couple also owned a pharmacy in Taboao da Serra, in Greater São Paulo, and claimed Larissa could continue working there after they separated.
According to his account, Larissa became distressed when he raised the subject of ending their marriage.
He told police: “Larissa started crying and became very upset with the conversation.
“I hugged her and continued talking to her, trying to calm her down.”
Santos claimed he did not see Larissa shoot herself.
He said: “The conversation ended and I decided to lie down to sleep.”.
He claimed that he later woke up after hearing “a very loud bang”, which he initially thought was the sound of breaking glass.
Santos said: “When I looked inside the bathroom, I saw Larissa lying on the floor.
“I tried to approach her, but I was extremely shaken by what I saw.”
He told investigators that he immediately called the Military Police emergency number and reported that Larissa had shot herself in the head with his gun.
Santos then said he contacted Larissa’s relatives to tell them what had happened.
The police officer was taken from the wake by the Military Police internal affairs unit and later transferred to Romão Gomes Military Prison in northern Sao Paulo.
His temporary detention was ordered by a judge while the investigation continues.
(Marija Stojkoska/Harrisons)
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