Medical student Letícia Rodrigues murdered in Barbacena; boyfriend arrested
On the night of 27 June 2026, 40‑year‑old medical student Letícia de Morais Vasconcelos Rodrigues was found dead inside her apartment in Barbacena, Minas Gerais. A post‑mortem examination reported “more than a hundred knife wounds” concentrated on the head, neck and back, indicating extreme violence.
The primary suspect is her boyfriend, 25‑year‑old Gustavo Dutra Lima, a fellow medical student. He was located the following morning in Bom Jardim de Minas, about 180 km from Barbacena, and taken into preventive detention. The investigation treats the case as feminicide. Police noted that the victim had filed a domestic‑violence report on 21 February 2026, alleging threats and excessive jealousy from Lima.
The Faculdade de Medicina de Barbacena issued a public statement expressing deep sorrow for the loss of the student and solidarity with her family. The motive for the killing remains under investigation, and the suspect remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.