An autopsy conducted by the Medical Legal Institute (IML) revealed that Sophia Emanuelly de Souza, a three-year-old girl, died from mechanical asphyxiation due to strangulation. This confirmation shifts the nature of the investigation, bringing into focus not only the primary crime but also the potential charges of torture against those involved. The report is critical as it clarifies the circumstances surrounding her tragic death and provides grounds for more severe legal action.

Her grandfather, José dos Santos, aged 42, and his 33-year-old partner, Karen Tamires Marques, are currently in preventive custody as primary suspects. Investigating officer Sebastião Vicente Picinato outlined that the confirmed cause of death alters the legal framing of the case, indicating the presence of cruelty typically associated with aggravated homicide. The case raises serious questions regarding the motivations behind such brutal crimes, particularly in instances involving vulnerable individuals like children.

This incident not only highlights the ongoing concern about violence against children in Brazil but also underscores the systemic issues in family dynamics that might lead to such extreme actions. The legal proceedings against José and Karen may set significant precedents for how similar cases are approached in the future, especially in defining the thresholds for cruelty and motive in violent crimes.