A law student who is suspected of committing multiple murders has been revealed to have contacted the police herself in an attempt to manipulate the investigations. Ana Paula Veloso, aged 36, is accused of poisoning pensioner Neil Correa da Silva in Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using a toxic bean stew. Detectives have uncovered evidence suggesting that the victim’s daughter, Michele Paiva da Silva, was involved in planning the murder, as indicated by incriminating text messages.
Throughout the various police reports filed, Veloso has been portrayed as either a complainant, witness, or even a supposed victim to steer the investigation away from her. An investigator stated, “She took pleasure in manipulating the investigations by fabricating events, inventing threats, and enlisting the police to support her false narratives.”
Concerns about Veloso’s behavior first arose in January when she contacted the Military Police to report that her neighbor, Marcelo Fonseca in Guarulhos, had been locked in his home for days without responding. Shockingly, although she appeared calm and worried during the call, video footage later revealed her cracking a smile. Investigators later discovered that Marcelo had been poisoned days earlier, and Veloso continued to live in his residence after the crime, citing rent as a reason.
Termed as a “psychopath” and a “serial killer,” Veloso is believed to have received payment for the murder. Joint investigations by the Rio and Sao Paulo police indicate that she received R$4,000 (£560) for the crime. Paiva da Silva, a 43-year-old law student and bus driver, was arrested on Tuesday, October 8th, at a university in Rio.
Authorities suggest that there was a strained relationship between the father and daughter. They allege that Veloso and Paiva da Silva, described as friends, were both present when he fell ill and was subsequently hospitalized.
During a search at Veloso’s residence, detectives reportedly found a pesticide slightly less potent than lead. Both Veloso and Paiva da Silva are currently held in police custody. Chief Inspector Halisson Ideiao Leite revealed that Veloso has confessed to killing 10 dogs as part of her experimentation with the lethal bean stew.
Mr. Leite mentioned, “She confesses that she killed 10 dogs with this poison, testing the method and the timing. She knew exactly how long, the dosage, and what would happen to the people who consumed what she offered.”
The investigation has also led police in Sao Paulo to question Veloso’s twin sister Roberta. Mr. Leite stated, “She also actively participated in Neil’s death providing moral and material assistance.” Police are linking Neil’s death to three other poisonings in Guarulhos, which they believe were orchestrated by Veloso and Paiva da Silva. “Ana Paula poisoned four people, including Neil, on Michelle’s orders,” said Mr. Leite.
The crimes were reportedly committed between January and April of this year. Mr. Leite highlighted, “Their behavior is identical: closeness, manipulation, and the use of poison as a silent weapon.”
Veloso originally came to the attention of the police after claiming she was the target of an attempted cake poisoning, which detectives now believe was a ploy to frame someone else. Mr. Leite stated, “Ana Paula Veloso came to our police station because of an alleged poisoned cake inside a college. She planted this alleged poisoned cake to try to frame a third person. Through this investigation, we concluded that Ana Paula was not the victim in this case, but rather a serial killer.”
Detectives are now investigating whether the duo had planned additional murders. Civil police officer Raphael Morais Velo, a member of the investigation team, stated, “She didn’t kill impulsively – she killed methodically.”