Igor Eduardo Pereira Cabral, a former basketball player, was arrested in flagrante after brutally assaulting his girlfriend with over 60 punches to her face inside an elevator in a condominium in Ponta Negra, Natal, on July 26, 2025. The victim, Juliana Garcia dos Santos Soares, 35, suffered severe fractures to her jaw and face, requiring facial reconstruction surgery. The crime, captured by security cameras, shocked the public and led to Cabral’s preventive detention for attempted femicide. After being transferred to the Dinorá Simas Public Prison in Ceará-Mirim, he reported being assaulted by prison officers with punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and pepper spray. The Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (Seap) is investigating the allegations, while the victim recovers from injuries that marked a high-profile case of gender-based violence.
The assault followed an argument sparked by jealousy when Cabral saw messages on Juliana’s phone. He threw the device into the condominium’s pool and went to her apartment to retrieve his belongings. The victim, fearing an attack in a camera-free area, stayed in the elevator, where she was attacked. The building’s doorman, Manoel Anésio, alerted the Military Police upon seeing the footage, and residents restrained the aggressor until authorities arrived.
- Crime details: Over 60 punches were recorded by the cameras.
- Immediate response: The doorman notified the police, who arrived in eight minutes.
- Victim’s condition: Juliana sustained jaw and facial fractures, requiring surgery.
- Arrest: Cabral was detained in flagrante and is in preventive custody.
The brutality of the case sparked outrage and debates about violence against women in Rio Grande do Norte, while Cabral’s allegations against prison officers raise concerns about the prison system.
Details of the Ponta Negra crime
The incident in the elevator was triggered by an argument that began outside the condominium. Juliana reported that Cabral had previously shown aggressive behavior, including pushing and encouraging suicidal thoughts. On the day of the crime, he became enraged after seeing messages on her phone, which she claimed were not incriminating. Her refusal to leave the elevator, knowing the hallway lacked cameras, appears to have escalated his anger.
Security footage shows Cabral delivering blows for about 35 seconds while the victim, cornered, tried to protect herself. After the attack, she exited the elevator with a bloodied face, staggering, while Cabral adjusted his sandal and left the scene. The doorman’s swift action ensured the aggressor’s arrest.
The victim, unable to speak due to her injuries, wrote a note in the hospital: “I knew he was going to hit me. So, I didn’t leave the elevator. He said he was going to kill me.” This statement was crucial in classifying the crime as attempted femicide, which, under Law 14.994/2024, enacted in October 2024, carries penalties of 20 to 40 years in prison.
Repercussion and police investigation
The Rio Grande do Norte Civil Police, under the coordination of the Specialized Women’s Assistance Division (Deam), is leading the investigation. Delegate Victoria Lisboa noted that Cabral had a history of controlling behavior, including psychological violence against Juliana. The severity of the injuries and the stated intent to kill strengthen the attempted femicide charge.
- Severe injuries: Fractures in the jaw and facial bones.
- Surgery: Performed on August 1 at the Onofre Lopes University Hospital.
- Investigation: Deam is examining possible prior crimes by Cabral against the victim.
- Reporting: Cases of violence against women can be reported via 180.
The quick actions of the doorman and residents were critical in preventing an even more tragic outcome. The case gained national attention, reigniting discussions about protecting women and the effectiveness of gender violence laws.
Allegations of prison assault
After his arrest, Cabral was transferred from the Parnamirim Triage Center to the Dinorá Simas Public Prison in Ceará-Mirim on August 1. The following day, he reported being assaulted by prison officers. According to his statement, he was placed naked in an isolation cell, handcuffed, and subjected to punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and pepper spray. He claimed the officers told him he had “arrived in hell” and suggested he kill himself.
The Seap stated that teams from the Penitentiary Administration Coordination and the Prison System Ombudsman were sent to the facility to investigate. Cabral was taken to the North Zone Duty Police Station in Natal to file a report and underwent a forensic examination at the Technical-Scientific Institute of Expertise (ITEP). The Prison System Internal Affairs Office is also probing potential misconduct by the officers.
- Cabral’s allegations: Physical assaults and use of pepper spray.
- Seap’s response: Investigations launched with a forensic exam.
- Prison conditions: No individual cells available in Ceará-Mirim.
- Safety: Cabral was placed in a wing deemed secure by Seap.
Cabral’s defense had requested he be held in an isolated cell, citing risks to his safety due to the case’s notoriety and threats from a criminal faction. The request was denied, as the prison lacks individual cells.
Victim’s impact and recovery
Juliana underwent facial reconstruction surgery at the Onofre Lopes University Hospital in Natal on August 1. The procedure, described as successful, aimed to restore the form and function of her face, damaged by fractures in her jaw and zygomatic-orbital structure. Unable to speak due to her injuries, she communicated via text messages and notes during initial medical care.
The psychological trauma is also a concern. Juliana reported to the police that Cabral encouraged her to commit suicide during moments of emotional vulnerability, which may constitute psychological violence. The Deam continues to investigate these circumstances to determine if additional charges will be filed against the accused.
- Successful surgery: Performed to repair facial fractures.
- Recovery: Juliana remains under hospital observation.
- Psychological support: Needed due to trauma and history of abuse.
- Prior reports: The victim mentioned previous aggressive incidents.
The case underscores the importance of channels like the 180 hotline, which ensures anonymity for reporting violence against women, and the role of specialized police units in assisting victims of gender-based violence.
Gender violence context in RN
Rio Grande do Norte has seen a rise in cases of violence against women in recent years, with notable increases in femicide and attempted femicide. The new Femicide Law, enacted in 2024, increased penalties for these crimes, aiming for stricter enforcement. Experts emphasize that awareness and prompt reporting, as seen in Juliana’s case, are vital for curbing violence.
The doorman Manoel Anésio’s actions, calling the police within minutes, were praised by authorities. He told the press he had “never seen anything like it” and acted instinctively. The local community also mobilized, with residents restraining the aggressor until the police arrived, highlighting the importance of collective action in violent situations.
- Femicide Law: Penalties of 20 to 40 years for attempted femicide.
- Reporting channels: 180 hotline and 190 for emergencies.
- Community support: Residents and doorman were key to the arrest.
- Prevention: Campaigns encourage anonymous reporting to protect victims.
Debate on the prison system
Cabral’s allegations of prison assault reignite discussions about Brazil’s penitentiary system. Cases of violence against inmates, though often underreported, are frequently documented by human rights organizations. The Seap emphasized that it follows strict protocols for transfers and custody, but the lack of individual cells in Ceará-Mirim raises questions about the safety of inmates in high-profile cases.
The Internal Affairs investigation may uncover potential misconduct by prison officers. Meanwhile, Cabral remains in a wing considered secure but without full isolation, as requested by his defense. The outcome of the investigation will be critical in determining whether there was abuse of authority or violations of the detainee’s rights.
- Seap investigation: Probing possible officer misconduct.
- Inmate rights: Forensic exam conducted.
- Prison system: Lack of individual cells poses structural challenges.
- Repercussion: Case may fuel debates on prison conditions.
The case of Igor Cabral and Juliana Soares reflects not only the severity of gender-based violence but also the complexities of the justice and prison systems. The victim’s recovery and the investigation into Cabral’s allegations continue, keeping the attention of society and authorities.