Brazilian authorities have arrested a woman who confessed to the brutal murder of 16-year-old Emelly Beatriz Azevedo Sena, a pregnant teenager whose unborn baby was forcibly removed and claimed as the suspect’s own.
The harrowing crime has sent shockwaves through the community of Cuiabá, where Emelly’s body was discovered in a shallow grave on March 13.
The young victim had been nine months pregnant when she was lured under the false pretense of receiving clothing donations.
According to the Civil Police of Mato Grosso, the suspect, identified by a New York Post report on the matter as Nataly Pereira, strangled Emelly before surgically removing the unborn child from her womb.
The suspect then arrived at Santa Helena Maternity Hospital with the infant, claiming she had given birth at home. However, medical staff quickly noticed inconsistencies—she displayed no signs of recent childbirth and was not producing breast milk.
Their suspicions led to police involvement, ultimately exposing the crime.
Authorities revealed that Emelly’s body bore signs of extreme violence. Plastic bags covered her head, and internet cables were tightly wound around her neck, wrists, and ankles.
Investigators believe the suspect’s actions were premeditated, as she had meticulously planned to abduct and raise the baby as her own.
The NY Post reports that the suspect’s lawyers said she’d suffered a miscarriage about six months ago and went on pretending like she was still pregnant.
“This would be the second time she had had a miscarriage and so she decided to maintain this false pregnancy,” Pereira’s legal team said.
Emelly’s mother, Ana Paula Meridiane, expressed her devastation over the loss of her daughter and grandchild, stating:
“I didn’t just lose a daughter; I lost a friend and companion. Only those who knew her truly understand how beautiful her heart was.”
The suspect has been charged with triple-qualified homicide—based on vile motive, cruelty, and preventing the victim from defending herself—as well as corpse concealment and falsifying a birth registration.
While her husband, brother, and a friend were present when police arrived, they were questioned and released. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether they played a role in the crime.
As the community mourns, Emelly’s tragic death has reignited conversations about violence against women and expectant mothers in Brazil. Her family now seeks justice for the young life cut short in an unspeakable act of cruelty.
