Stepmother Charged With Murder of 3-Year-Old Girl Who Drowned in Washing Machine

A stepmother in Brazil faces murder charges after her stepdaughter drowned in a washing machine. The toddler was in the woman’s care when she died. And while the woman claims it was an accident, the child’s family doesn’t believe it.

The little girl’s mother claims the stepmother was jealous of the relationship between the child’s father and his ex. Co-parenting isn’t always easy, but this certainly isn’t the right solution to the issues.

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Three-year-old Isabelly Oliveira Assumpção, died on May 7, 2022, in Cascavel in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Her stepmother, Suzana Dazar dos Santos, has been charged with her murder, according to multiple international reports.

CNN Brasil reported on the case, citing a complaint filed by the Public Ministry of Paraná. In the complaint, Santos allegedly sat the little girl on a bench in front of the washing machine. At the time, it was full of water, and Santos put toys into the appliance. She then reportedly left the toddler alone in the room.

According to the complaint, the crime was motivated by jealousy because Isabelly’s father and mother still had a friendly relationship, news outlet G1 reported. The outlet also reported that Santos’ attorneys claimed the girl’s death was an “accident.”

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Attorney Paulo Hara Júnior, claimed that Santos had a “good relationship” with the girl. The attorneys claimed there was “no evidence that she intended to take her life.”

However, Isabelly’s mother believes the stepmother “prepared the entire situation for the crime to happen,” her lawyer, Alexander Beilner. The girl’s father, Alex dos Santos Assumpção, told RPC Cascavel via G1 “Nothing will repair the loss, having lost her, but justice will calm our hearts a little … Due to the evidence that we have, that has come and that is yet to come, we believe that they are absolutely right.”

He added: “These recent times have not been easy for us, because it is an irreparable loss, I can say that I do not want anyone to go through what we went through, but I want justice to be served.”

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Per outlet UOL, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Paraná “classified the crime as intentional homicide.”

“We are very happy with the MP’s statement. We have always believed in justice. We always knew that we could trust justice. And the facts are there, and there is more to come. We have never accused anyone. We just want justice for our daughter,” Alex dos Santos Assumpção added, per G1.

According to the UOL report, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested a jury trial for Santos.