São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil — A 37-year-old military police officer and his 41-year-old businesswoman partner died in a motel bathtub after celebrating their daughter’s 4th birthday, with investigators ruling the deaths accidental and caused by heatstroke aggravated by intoxication.
Jeferson Luiz Sagaz and Ana Carolina Silva had reportedly spent the evening drinking and consuming cocaine, then checked into the Dallas Motel just after midnight. When they failed to return the next morning to pick up their child, relatives raised the alarm — their bodies were later found in the bathtub.
Forensic analysis determined that the bathtub water reached about 122°F (50 °C) and a space heater in the room was running on high, contributing to extreme dehydration and thermal stress. Toxicology tests revealed both alcohol and cocaine in their systems, substances which experts say likely dulled their ability to respond to the overheated environment.
Medical examiners concluded that the cause of death was “exogenous poisoning,” which exacerbated the process of heatstroke, leading to organ failure and death — dismissing theories of foul play, electrocution, carbon monoxide, or drowning.
Following the autopsy, Silva’s family publicly contested the findings, asserting that she was not a habitual drug user and suggesting she may have been forced to ingest the substances. Although the investigation confirmed the toxicology and environmental stress factors, authorities say no evidence of external involvement or violence was found.
The couple had been together for nearly two decades and had no known history of domestic violence, according to police statements. Their 4-year-old daughter is now being cared for by relatives following the tragedy.
