Man Sentenced to 116 Years for Murder of Ex‑Partner and Her Son in Santa Catarina

A court in the city of Forquilhinha, Santa Catarina, Brazil sentenced a man to 116 years, three months and ten days in prison for the brutal killing of his former partner and her eight‑year‑old son. The victims, identified as Maria, a 31‑year‑old seamstress, and her son João, were stabbed a total of 142 times after the perpetrator broke into their home on the night of January 23, 2025, citing his refusal to accept the end of the relationship. The jury found the defendant guilty of feminicide, homicide, qualified theft and aggravated arson, and ordered him to pay moral damages of R$ 200,000 to the victims’ relatives and R$ 50,000 to the owner of the burned‑out rental unit. He remains in preventive detention and will begin serving the sentence immediately.

The case sparked strong community outrage, with locals emphasizing a zero‑tolerance stance toward gender‑based violence and the murder of a child. Prosecutors highlighted the cruelty of the attack, describing it as an emblematic example of domestic femicide in the region.