A tragic incident unfolded as a couple was discovered lifeless in a hot bathtub following their daughter’s birthday celebration. Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37, and Ana Carolina Silva, 41, were found dead in a motel room on August 11. Medical professionals determined that their deaths resulted from heatstroke and organ failure. Concern arose when the couple failed to collect their daughter, prompting family members to report them missing.
The couple had celebrated their daughter’s fourth birthday at a food park before heading to a nightclub. After dropping off their child at Jeferson’s sister’s residence, they checked into the Dallas Motel in São José, Brazil, just after midnight.
Authorities initiated a missing persons investigation and discovered the couple deceased in the bathroom. Investigators revealed that Jeferson, a military police officer, and Ana Carolina, a nail salon owner, had collapsed in 50C water with a space heater running.
According to a report by local news outlet Globo G1, toxicology tests indicated high alcohol levels and traces of cocaine in their systems. Forensic examinations ruled out potential causes of death such as electric shock, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, or foul play after analyzing the motel room, the couple’s vehicle, and CCTV footage.
Brazil’s Chief Medical Examiner, Andressa Boer Fronza, stated that both deaths were due to exogenous poisoning, leading to heatstroke, severe dehydration, thermal collapse, organ failure, and ultimately death.
Chief of Police Felipe Simão Gomes stated, “The circumstances surrounding the deaths, along with the substances found in their bodies, led the Civil Police to conclude that the cause of death was sudden and not the result of external interference.” Friends described Jeferson and Ana Carolina as committed parents and sociable individuals who had been together for nearly two decades, with no history of violence according to the police.
Ana Carolina’s family disputed claims of her being a regular drug user and raised suspicions about potential coercion into using cocaine. Chief Simão remarked, “It’s possible that their physical conditions were not suitable for the consumption of such substances, especially when combined with alcohol.”