Encantado police indict man for feminicide of teenager

The Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul have indicted Wagno Arezi Henika, 40, for the feminicide of 14-year-old Alice Nitz in Encantado, located in the Vale do Taquari region. Henika, who is currently in preventive detention, confessed to the crime, stating he “lost his head” during an argument.

The victim was found dead from stab wounds on August 17 at the residence of her former stepfather. Investigators noted that while the crime is being treated as feminicide, they ruled out vicarious homicide—killing to cause psychological harm to another—and found no evidence of sexual violence.

Henika and the victim's mother had a relationship lasting 13 years, and the teenager viewed Henika as a father figure. Despite the separation, the two remained close and lived only blocks apart. Police reports indicated that Henika had maintained a controlling and rigid posture toward the teenager, which bordered on psychological violence.