Police probe electric shock or poisoning in mystery as motel couple found

Police are investigating a potential electrocution or poisoning after a couple wassuddenly found dead with no signs of violence just hours after they celebrated their daughter's birthday.

Businesswoman Ana Carolina Silva and her military police officer partner Jeferson Luiz Sagaz were found dead in a motel room bathtub in São José, a city in the Greater Florianópolis area of southeastern Brazil. Police are now probing if the couple was electrocuted or even poisoned.

They leave behind a four-year-old daughter following a relationshipspanning nearly 20 years.

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The couple went to the motel on a highway in the Roçado area by police and an alarm was raised by their family after the couple, both aged 37, spent Sunday celebrating their daughter’s fourth birthday at a food park.

In the evening, they went to a bar after dropping their daughter at Jeferson's sister's home and were last seen at around 11:30pm, according to Joice Martins Botelho, the wife of Ana's cousin. They were supposed to pick up their daughter the next day, but neither of them showed up.

Felipe Simão, the officer in charge of the case, said the couple's last steps were “analysed” and they were found dead in the motel after. They were found inside an electrically heated bathtub that was still switched on when officers arrived.

A homicide division is handling the case. Mr Simão previously said police were not at that time ruling out a homicide or suicide.

But investigators said they are also looking at if they were killed by a powerful electric shock. The room was examined by police along with the couple's car and CCTV footage. Jefferson, who served at the Trindade Military Police Academy (APMT) in Florianópolis, did not have a gun with him at the motel.

Ms Botelho said: “She had the biggest heart, was a truly devoted mother, and an amazing daughter and sister... loving, caring, and determined.”

A police association said Jeferson was "well-liked by everyone in the force".

A post-mortem is expected within the next two weeks. Both Ana and Jeferson were laid to rest earlier this week.

It comes after a woman in her 20s has died after fall 'from a height' at a skyscraper at Canary Wharf. A forensics tent was seen outside Sirocco Tower, a 32-floor apartment block on Harbour Way, in the heart of the city's financial district.

The woman is reported to have fallen to her death at around 6am yesterday morning.

Emergency services were called, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The death of the woman, who has not yet been identified, is being treated as unexpected by the Met Police, who say they are investigating.

Police told theMirror : “At around 06:39hrs on Wednesday, 13 August police responded to calls that a person had fallen from height in Harbour Way, Canary Wharf.

“Police and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene but sadly a woman in her 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Her next of kin have been notified and are being supported by specialist officers. At this time her death is being treated as unexpected and enquiries continue.”