Inspector General's Office investigates police conduct in arrest of suspect in double homicide in Cotia
The Inspector General's Office of the Civil Police is investigating the actions of police officers who arrested Eric Conrado, suspected of killing lawyer Anna Gabriela and her 6-year-old son.
Arrest video in Cotia exposes treatment given to suspect in double homicide
The Inspector General's Office of the Civil Police of São Paulo has opened an investigation to examine the conduct of police officers involved in the arrest of Eric Conrado Alves de Almeida, 41, suspected of killing lawyer Anna Gabriela Faria Lima and her son, Raphael, aged 6, in Cotia, in Greater São Paulo. As g1.globo.com reported, the Public Security Secretariat of São Paulo (SSP-SP) confirmed the investigation and stated that "any irregularity that may be found will be held accountable".
Eric Conrado was detained on the evening of Wednesday (4), in the Jaguaré neighbourhood, West Zone of the capital of São Paulo. He was on Interpol's wanted list and had been a fugitive since the crime.
Video repercussions on social media
The arrest gained attention on social media following the circulation of a video in which the detective in charge of the case, Mônica Gamboa, converses with the suspect in a calm tone and assures him that she would take measures to guarantee his safety. In the recording, she asks Eric to remain calm, informs him that his parents were present and guarantees that he would not be transferred to a Provisional Detention Centre (CDP).
"Your parents are here. Stay calm, we're here. Look at me [...] You won't be transferred to the CDP. You'll stay in a cell by yourself," said the detective in the video.
In another section of the recording, Gamboa assists Eric's mother in preparing the bag he would take to prison and advises her to include a heavy coat because of the cold, even helping to fold the clothes.
Comments on social media questioned the treatment given to the businessman and compared the approach to other arrests of fugitives conducted in a different manner.
Detective defends her actions
Following the repercussions, Mônica Gamboa posted a statement on her Instagram profile to justify how the arrest was conducted. She stated that she does not resort to violence to demonstrate authority and that her actions are guided by technique and respect for legislation.
"As a detective I do not need to resort to violence to demonstrate firmness, nor to produce spectacles to reaffirm my authority," she wrote. Hours after making the post, the detective deactivated her account on the platform.
The crime: 5 hours in the victims' apartment
Eric Conrado remained 5 hours and 20 minutes in Anna Gabriela's apartment before leaving the location alone. According to the Civil Police, he would have attempted to erase traces of the crime: he washed dishes, wiped the floor, tidied the bed where the bodies were left and placed incense near the door to disguise the smell of the corpses.
According to detective Mônica Gamboa, Eric arrived at the apartment on the evening of Sunday (1), at around 21:40, accompanied by Anna Gabriela and Raphael. He left alone at 2:15 in the early morning of Monday (2).
The cause of death of Anna Gabriela and Raphael was asphyxiation, according to preliminary information obtained from examinations carried out at the Legal Medical Institute (IML) in Cotia. The detective attended the autopsies, but stated that the police await official reports to obtain further details about the circumstances of the deaths.
A relationship marked by ups and downs
Although the police initially described Eric and Anna Gabriela as ex-partners, Gamboa corrected the information during a press conference on Thursday (5): the two had rekindled their relationship in early October and were partners at the time of the crime.
"A relationship of approximately three years, with ups and downs. They were separated, they rekindled this relationship in early October, during the election period, they went back to meeting," said the detective.
According to Gamboa, in the few words exchanged with Eric after his capture, he referred to the lawyer as "the woman of his life" and "the love of his life". The detective characterised the relationship as passionate and stated that the suspect demonstrated a kind of idolatry for Anna Gabriela.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo