A mother identified as Eline, a security guard by profession, was savagely stabbed by her ex-husband, Marcos, inside her own home and in the presence of her three children, in an incident that occurred in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.
The attack, which the victim said was premeditated, took place as she was returning from her night shift at work.
The violent incident occurred after the couple had been together for 20 years, which ended two years ago when Eline filed for divorce.
Although the relationship had ended, the abuser refused to accept the separation and persistently sought reconciliation. His recent attitude appeared peaceful, limiting himself to requesting meetings with his daughters, one aged 1 and the other 7, as well as an older son aged 21.
Trusting her ex-partner’s apparent calm, Eline agreed to let him look after the girls while she worked.
However, when she returned home, she found him upset, which led to an argument that ended in an attempted murder. Marcos attacked her with a knife in front of their children and then fled the scene.
The eldest son witnessed the attack and acted quickly to take his mother to the hospital. Neighbors protected the girls, who were visibly traumatized by the scene.
Marcos, who worked as a frontiersman and was a respected figure in his community, is currently a fugitive. The São Paulo Civil Police suspect he may be hiding in the same community where he is known, given that several people still trust his word.
The Women’s Defense Delegation requested her pretrial detention for attempted femicide and violation of a protective measure previously granted to the victim.
The file reveals that Marcos had been harassing and threatening Eline for weeks before the attack, even using a work phone number to contact her shortly before the crime. That number has remained inactive ever since.
Eline remains hospitalized with multiple stab wounds, while her daughters were placed under protective guard for fear of reprisals.
The police are intensifying their search for the attacker, interviewing family members, acquaintances, and former coworkers. Authorities are also attempting to track his whereabouts by lifting communications restrictions.
The victim’s family demands justice. ”
He can’t go unpunished. Even though he was a hard-working man, what he did is unforgivable,” said a close friend.
This case of gender-based violence highlights the urgency of effectively protecting women who have protective measures and demonstrates the persistent threat posed by femicide in Brazil.
