Former Brazilian soldier faces jury trial for murder and arson of army corporal

Former Brazilian Army soldier Kelvin Barros da Silva has been placed in preventive detention and will be tried by a popular jury on charges of femicide and corpse concealment. Barros confessed to killing Corporal Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos, 25, and setting fire to her body after a dispute on 5 December 2025 at the 1st Cavalry Guard Regiment (RCG) in Brasília. Investigators say the victim was stabbed in the neck, then the perpetrator used a lighter and alcohol to ignite the room before fleeing. Barros was apprehended hours later in the Paranoá district and is currently held at the Army Police Battalion.

The case has drawn public attention due to its gender‑based violence aspect and the involvement of a serving military member. Prosecutors will present evidence of the murder, the subsequent arson, and the alleged extramarital relationship that preceded the crime.