São Paulo Civil Police arrested 35-year-old law student Ana Paula Veloso Fernandes, accused of poisoning and killing four people between January and May 2025. The crimes took place in Guarulhos and São Paulo, as well as Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. The motive involved seizing victims’ assets and money, according to the investigation.
The initial arrest occurred in July after an attempted poisoning at a Guarulhos college. In September, the court ordered preventive detention for qualified homicides. Ana Paula is a defendant in São Paulo’s Public Prosecutor’s Office for all four cases, with evidence of a toxic substance used in food and drinks.
Victims showed pulmonary edema and internal signs of poisoning. Three bodies were exhumed for toxicological analysis. The suspicion is a poison known as “chumbinho,” but forensic reports are still pending.
Profiles of victims revealed in the complaint
Marcelo Hari Fonseca, 51, died on January 31 in Guarulhos. He rented property to Ana Paula and her sister. His body was found in advanced decomposition, and the case was reopened after a request from his daughter.
Maria Aparecida Rodrigues, 49, passed away on April 11 in the same city. Met through a dating app, she consumed coffee and cake offered by the suspect. Her daughter noted Ana Paula used a false name.
Neil Corrêa da Silva, a 65-year-old retiree, died on April 26 in Duque de Caxias. He ate poisoned feijoada brought by the student. His daughter, Michelle Paiva da Silva, 43, paid R$4,000 for the twin sisters to execute the plan.
Hayder Mhazres, a 21-year-old Tunisian, died on May 23 in São Paulo. The suspect’s boyfriend, he fell ill after a milkshake. Ana Paula falsely claimed pregnancy to demand money from his family.
Involvement of accomplices in the crimes
Twin sister Roberta Cristina Veloso Fernandes, 35, assisted in the poisonings. She was arrested in August for involvement in all four homicides. WhatsApp messages reveal a “TCC” code to refer to the acts, with payment splits.
Michelle Paiva da Silva hired the sisters to kill her father. The two met at a law college in Rio. She was detained on October 7 in Duque de Caxias and transferred to Guarulhos.
The three women are in separate prisons. Ana Paula is under preventive detention in São Paulo. Roberta and Michelle are temporarily detained in Guarulhos. The Public Prosecutor seeks charges against all for qualified homicide.
Investigators recovered cold exchanges between the sisters about dosages and payments. They tested poison on ten dogs to adjust effects. Police are probing for additional victims.
Timeline of investigated poisonings
The crimes began in January with Marcelo Hari Fonseca. Ana Paula called the Military Police for the body, feigning discovery. The initially archived case was reopened in May due to lack of early evidence.
In April, Maria Aparecida Rodrigues visited the suspects’ home. Hours later, she was found dead without external injuries. Forensics confirmed no lesions, pointing to poisoning.
In late April, Neil Corrêa da Silva consumed the feijoada. He was rushed to a hospital but did not survive. Exhumation occurred in October for tests at Rio’s Legal Medical Institute.
College attempt precedes arrests
In July, Ana Paula prepared poisoned cake for classmates in Guarulhos. The plan aimed to frame a policeman’s wife in an extramarital affair. This led to the initial investigation.
Detectives noted a pattern: the suspect was the last to see victims alive and contacted authorities soon after. This aided early cover-ups.
The university confirmed her law enrollment until September. Classmates reported manipulative behavior in statements. Police gathered family testimonies to map her network.
Suspicions of additional deaths under investigation
São Paulo and Rio police share information on potential further victims. Ana Paula’s records in Duque de Caxias since January show frequent trips to SP.
Toxicological reports from three exhumations are due in November. They may confirm chumbinho as the substance. The Public Prosecutor analyzes messages to trace financial transactions.
The defendants’ defenses did not comment. The case progresses in Guarulhos’ Jury Court, with hearings set for December.
- Forensic tests ongoing to identify exact poison.
- São Paulo and Rio police cooperate for new leads.
- Phone analysis reveals detailed crime planning.
- Family reports indicate systematic lies by the suspect.
