The family of a woman who was found dead in a hotel bathtub following her daughter’s birthday celebration has come forward with a startling assertion as investigators discovered drugs and alcohol in her system.
Brazilian officials have revealed that Ana Carolina Silva, a 41-year-old businesswoman, and Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, a 37-year-old military police officer, died in a motel after consuming alcohol and cocaine.
According to The New York Post, the couple, who were married, had spent the day at a park celebrating their four-year-old child’s birthday with food and drinks.
On the night of August 11, they left their child with Jeferson’s sister and checked into the Dallas Motel in Säo José shortly after midnight, intending to go clubbing later.
Concerns arose when the couple did not return to pick up their child the next morning.
Responding officers investigating the missing persons report discovered their bodies in the motel bathtub.
Authorities determined the cause of death to be heatstroke.
The toxicology reports indicated the presence of cocaine and alcohol in their systems, which may have impaired their ability to react to the 122-degree Fahrenheit water.
Investigators noted that a space heater had been left on a high setting in the room.
Silva’s family has expressed disbelief over her death, asserting that she was not a regular drug user.
They are concerned she might have been coerced into taking cocaine.
“It may be that the physical constitution, both his and hers, were not compatible with the use of a substance like that, especially when combined with alcohol,” said Chief of Police Felipe Simão Gomes.
He further commented: “The big issue raised in the statements we took, talking to people involved in this, is that they did not have the habit of using cocaine.”
Dr. Fernando Oliva da Fonseca, Director of Forensic Medicine for the Scientific Police, explained to G1 Globo that: “The use of cocaine, which in doses alone could cause torpor, drowsiness and even coma in the individual, combined with alcohol, which also causes this in high doses, such as torpor, coma and drowsiness.
“Add the two together, increasing the [risk] factor and that’s exactly what may have happened, the person goes into torpor at that temperature and it rises and they don’t feel it and don’t have a defense reaction.”
After conducting 16 forensic tests, analyzing CCTV footage, and inspecting their car, Civil Police determined that their deaths were sudden and not a result of outside interference.
The examinations excluded potential causes such as drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, foul play, or electric shock.
Chief Medical Examiner Andressa Boer Fronza stated that the couple died from exogenous poisoning, which contributed to heatstroke, severe dehydration, thermal collapse, leading to organ failure and death.
The couple, who had been together for almost 20 years, had no history of domestic violence, according to authorities.
Following the tragic incident, their child is now under the care of family members.
The New York Post noted that Silva’s nail salon has honored her memory.
The business released a statement saying: “We say goodbye to a mother, a boss, a daughter, a wife, [and] an exceptional woman.”