Dad Allegedly Strangled Girl, 12, To Death After Finding Chats With Boy

A father has been arrested accused of beating his 12-year-old daughter to death after allegedly finding messages between her and a boy on social media.

Olga Beatriz Santos da Silva died in Várzea Grande, in the metropolitan region of Cuiabá, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, on 7 June.

Police said her father, Claudinei Silva, 42, was arrested on suspicion of femicide after the schoolgirl was found with multiple injuries.

Olga was taken to the Verdão Emergency Care Unit in nearby Cuiabá, but doctors confirmed she was already dead when she arrived.

Her mother told police she had gone to Claudinei’s home at around 6pm to collect her daughter.

She said she knocked repeatedly at the gate before Claudinei came out and claimed Olga was not inside.

Claudinei allegedly told the mother the girl had gone to play at a neighbour’s house.

But Olga’s mother became suspicious after noticing what she described as unusual behaviour from him.

Claudinei then allegedly ran from the property.

The mother went inside and found Olga lying on the floor of one of the bedrooms.

Police said the child was unconscious and had visible marks of violence across her body.

Her mother took her to the emergency unit with the help of a friend, where medics confirmed Olga’s death.

Investigators later sealed off the house and called in forensic officers to examine the scene.

Civil Police said Claudinei later went to the police station, where he was arrested in the act on suspicion of femicide.

His arrest was later converted into preventive custody on 8 June.

Detective Nilson Farias said the alleged attack began after Claudinei checked Olga’s phone and found a conversation with a boy on social media.

He said Claudinei had been drinking at a family party earlier that day before returning home.

Detective Farias said: “He said he took her phone to look at conversations on social media, and she, a 12-year-old girl, was talking to a boy, which is natural.

“He did not like it and said he went to correct her. They started arguing and he said that at one point he strangled her, choked her.

“He was aware, regardless of being under the influence of alcohol, that a strong man putting pressure on the neck of a 12-year-old child can kill.”

Police said they are also investigating whether the alleged killing may have been an act of revenge against Olga’s mother, who reportedly had protective measures against Claudinei.

The case remains under investigation by the Civil Police.

(Aloysius Fernades/Newsflash)