Father and stepmother arrested in Palmas after 3‑year‑old's death ruled homicide
Gustavo Veloso Feitosa, a 3‑year‑old boy, was found dead in a house in Palmas, Tocantins, on 3 August 2026. The father, lawyer Igor Gustavo Veloso de Souza, initially reported the death as a drowning in the family pool, but a forensic autopsy by the Instituto Médico Legal (IML) rejected that version. The IML report documented multiple injuries, including facial bruises, intestinal laceration, internal hemorrhage and signs of sexual violence, concluding the death resulted from severe violence.
Police Civil opened a homicide investigation, and the 1st Division Specialized Homicides and Protection of Persons (DHPP) in Palmas placed Igor Gustavo and his partner Kathellen Moreira under preventive detention. They were arrested on the night of 5–6 August 2026. The Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil – Seccional Tocantins (OAB‑TO) suspended the lawyer pending disciplinary proceedings. A public protest titled “Justiça por Gustavo” gathered residents in Palmas on 6 August, demanding stricter punishment for the perpetrator and stronger protection against parental alienation.
A video circulating online shows the child refusing to go to his father's house, saying “Because he hits me.” IML director Eduardo Godinho said the case was unprecedented in his 18‑year career, underscoring the severity of the violence.
Entities: 1st Division Specialized Homicides and Protection of Persons (DHPP) of Palmas · DHPP (1st Specialized Division of Homicides and Protection of Persons) · Eduardo Godinho · Gustavo Veloso Feitosa · Igor Gustavo Veloso de Sousa · Igor Gustavo Veloso de Souza · Kathellen Moreira · Police Civil of Tocantins
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The father was previously denounced in 2023 for sending threatening audio messages to the child's mother. (new)
- [● 2 SOURCES] A 3‑year‑old boy named Gustavo Veloso Feitosa was found dead in a house in the northern area of Palmas, Tocantins. (new)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Police observed signs of violence on the child's body, raising suspicion of homicide. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] IML director Eduardo Godinho said the cause of death was internal and external hemorrhage from multiple injuries, indicating severe violence. (new)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Police Civil of Tocantins opened a homicide investigation handled by the 1st Specialized Division of Homicides and Protection of Persons (DHPP). (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A video circulating online shows the child saying “Because he hits me!” referring to his father. (new)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The child's father, lawyer Igor Gustavo Veloso de Sousa, reported the death to police and was released after giving a statement. (new)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Preliminary forensic examination by the Institute of Medical Legal (IML) ruled out drowning as the cause of death. (new)