Candelária police investigate deaths of mother and daughter

A mother and her 13-year-old daughter were found dead inside their home in the rural Passa Sete area of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul. Patrícia Cristina Pereira, 31, and Karolayne Cristina Costa, 13, had been missing since Sunday, September 27. Forensic examinations revealed the victims were killed with a sharp object, such as a knife or machete, rather than firearms as initially suspected.

The Civil Police are investigating the case as a potential double homicide or femicide. While three suspects have been identified, no arrests have been made. Investigators are looking into the victim's personal relationships and the possibility of a connection to a previous tragedy involving the same family.

In April 2012, Patrícia’s parents, Sérgio Antônio Pereira and Roseli Rosa, were shot and killed near the same residence. That case, which stemmed from a dispute between neighboring families, resulted in the 2015 conviction of a father and son. Police are currently working to determine if the recent killings are linked to that historical conflict.