A 32-year-old woman from Massachusetts is at the center of a disturbing homicide case after prosecutors say her husband murdered her and tried to stage the scene to appear as if she had taken her own life.
On Tuesday, April 15, Thiago Oliveira, 33, of Lynn, was arraigned in Salem Superior Court on a charge of murder in connection with the January death of his wife, Carla Lourenco Da Silva.
Prosecutors allege that Oliveira killed Lourenco Da Silva around January 20 and then attempted to mislead investigators by staging her death as a suicide by hanging.
Oliveira previously faced a charge of misleading a police investigation, filed on January 23, but authorities say new evidence supports the murder charge.
He pleaded not guilty at Tuesday’s arraignment and is being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 14 for the filing of discovery motions.
According to People, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office has announced the upgrade in charges, stating that the circumstances surrounding Lourenco Da Silva’s death had raised significant concerns early in the investigation.
No comment has been provided at this time from Oliveira’s defense counsel.
The case highlights the persistent dangers of domestic violence. Advocates urge anyone who may be experiencing abuse to seek help.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
