Audio of the prisoner’s statement was released to the press and brings new developments about the case.
The case of the murder of young Vitória Regina gained new contours after the release of an audio in which Maicol Sales dos Santos, the only suspect arrested, claims to have been coerced into confessing to the crime.
The recording, obtained by CNN, reveals that, according to Maicol, he had invented a version of events to protect his family from reprisals by the authorities. The testimony comes at a critical moment, before his transfer to a prison unit in Guarulhos, in Greater São Paulo.
What does Maicol say in the audio released in the media?
In his account, Maicol describes an atmosphere of intimidation during the interrogation, mentioning threats that were allegedly made by police officers. “They called me and said they were going to f*** me no matter what,” he said, adding that the pressure intensified with the promise that his mother and wife would also be implicated in the crime. This alleged coercion allegedly led Maicol to invent a story that placed him as the person responsible for Vitória’s death, all in order to “free” his mother and wife from possible consequences.
In addition to allegations of coercion, Maicol also reported the degrading conditions in which he was held before giving his statement. He reported being placed in a dirty bathroom with minimal hygiene conditions, which, according to him, was a form of pressure to force him to collaborate with the investigation.
Maicol reinforces that he confessed to the crime to protect his family
The recording ends with Maicol showing emotion as he explains his previous confession, reiterating that his only desire was to protect his mother and wife. “ I just wanted to save my family,” he says in part of the audio. When asked about the identity of the officer responsible for the threats, he was unable to provide the information. “It was the officer here, I don’t know his name,” the arrested suspect declared
