A 21-year-old woman whose face was skinned and who had her ears and nose cut off and her eyes gouged out had been targetted because she was gay, say her family.
Ana Caroline Sousa Campelo’s mutilated body was found in the municipality of Maranhaozinho, in the Brazilian state of Maranhao, on Sunday, 10th December.
Ana’s uncle, who has not been named, reported her missing after she disappeared as she was returning from work, and her bicycle and mobile phone had been found near her home.
One witness told the police they saw a crying young woman with a man on a motorbike and when they pointed a flashlight towards them, the man drove off.
Police, who searched the area, then found Ana’s dead body in a horrifying condition, with her face skinned and her scalp removed, her eyes gouged out and her ears and nose cut off.
The removed body parts were not found.
Her body is set to undergo an autopsy.
Ana’s family said they suspect she was a target of homophobia because she was a lesbian, according to local media.
Ana’s mother, Carmelita da Silva Sousa, said her daughter loved life and added: “Carol was a sweet girl.
“She just had the pleasure of living; they took my daughter’s life without her doing anything. Please, let’s get justice for Carol.”
Maranhao Civil Police told local media that the Interior Civil Police Superintendency is investigating the case.
No suspects have been arrested so far for the murder.
