A tragic incident unfolded as a couple was discovered lifeless in a bathtub filled with scalding water shortly after celebrating their daughter’s birthday. The deceased individuals, Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37, and Ana Carolina Silva, 41, were found inside a motel room on August 11. Medical professionals determined that their deaths resulted from heatstroke and organ failure. The alarm was raised when their family reported them missing after failing to collect their daughter.
The couple had spent the day celebrating their daughter’s fourth birthday at a food park and then proceeded to a nightclub. Following this, they dropped off their child at Jeferson’s sister’s residence before checking into the Dallas Motel in São José, Brazil, around midnight.
Authorities initiated a missing persons inquiry, leading to the discovery of the deceased couple in the bathroom. Investigators disclosed that Jeferson, a military police officer, and Ana Carolina, a nail salon proprietor, had lost consciousness in 50-degree Celsius water with a space heater operational.
According to local media outlet Globo G1, toxicology tests revealed elevated alcohol levels and traces of cocaine. The Civil Police conducted 16 forensic examinations ruling out potential causes of death such as electric shock, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, or foul play. The investigation involved scrutinizing the motel room, the couple’s vehicle, and reviewing CCTV footage.
Brazil’s Chief Medical Examiner, Andressa Boer Fronza, stated that both deaths were due to exogenous poisoning, leading to heatstroke, severe dehydration, thermal collapse, organ failure, and eventual demise.
Chief of Police Felipe Simão Gomes declared that the circumstances, along with the substances found in their bodies, led the Civil Police to ascertain that the deaths were sudden and not a result of external interference. The couple, who had been together for nearly two decades, were described by friends as dedicated parents and social individuals. Police confirmed no history of violence in their relationship.
Family members of Ana Carolina dismissed allegations of her being a habitual drug user and expressed concerns that she may have been coerced into consuming cocaine. Chief Simão mentioned that their physical conditions were possibly incompatible with such substances, especially when combined with alcohol.