Police are still on the lookout for the missing head of a 65-year-old woman who was brutally killed and dismembered in southern Brazil. The victim, Brasília Costa, was allegedly murdered by her 66-year-old partner, Ricardo Jardim, in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. The investigation began when the woman’s torso was found in a suitcase at the city’s bus station on August 20. Jardim, an advertising executive, was arrested in September, with authorities suspecting the motive was financial gain as he attempted to use the victim’s credit cards.
Jardim has a history of violence, having previously served a 28-year sentence for killing his mother and concealing her body in concrete. Released in 2024 under a semi-open prison regime, he is now facing charges related to the recent murder case. Despite his false statements to the police, investigators remain determined to locate the victim’s missing head, with Chief Mario Souza expressing optimism about the search efforts.
Although Jardim claimed to have disposed of the head in a specific area, searches yielded no results, leading to further challenges in the investigation. Authorities plan to conclude the case and formally charge Jardim with murder if the head is not located soon. The victim’s body parts were initially discarded in an area without surveillance cameras, with subsequent discoveries in different zones of the city.
Forensic reports are currently being compiled for submission to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, advancing the legal proceedings in this disturbing case. The incident serves as a reminder of the prevalence and consequences of domestic abuse, prompting support services to offer assistance to those affected by such tragedies.
