In a decision that has drawn significant attention, the Brazilian justice system has authorized house arrest for Octávio Henrique dos Santos Campos, the 20-year-old man identified as the primary suspect in the death of 17-year-old Evellyn Cristine Firmino da Silva. The teenager's body was discovered in a rural area of Lavras, Minas Gerais, on April 21, following her disappearance three days prior.
The court's ruling to substitute preventive detention with house arrest was based on two key factors: the suspect's critical clinical condition and the documented impossibility of providing him with adequate health assistance within the prison system. According to his defense lawyers, Campos is currently awake but unable to speak or walk. He relies on a feeding tube, responds to pain stimuli, and is incapacitated for performing basic self-care and feeding.
The conditions of his house arrest are stringent. He is required to remain confined to his home 24 hours a day, permitted to leave only for verified emergency medical appointments. Any such emergency must be reported to the court within 24 hours. Furthermore, he must wear an electronic ankle monitor and is prohibited from any form of contact—telephonic, digital, or in-person—with the victim's family members and witnesses involved in the case.
The investigation into the case is ongoing, with police treating it as a suspected femicide based on a collection of evidence gathered during the inquiry. Campos, who was the victim's boyfriend, allegedly confessed the crime to his mother. Security camera footage has provided crucial insights for investigators, showing movements near the couple's residence that suggest a possible conflict, as well as an image of an unconscious person being placed on a motorcycle.
The cause of Evellyn's death remains officially indeterminate pending the results of complementary toxicological and laboratory examinations. Initial forensic analysis did not identify conclusive signs of asphyxiation, such as injuries to the trachea or cervical spine, though that possibility has not been ruled out. Investigators are also exploring the hypothesis of prior intoxication or sedation.
Campos was found unconscious on April 19 in the rural Serrinha region, in a serious condition, with the suspicion being a suicide attempt through excessive insulin use. His family has expressed hope for his recovery "so that he can pay for the crime." The case continues to be actively investigated by the Civil Police of Minas Gerais.
Based on reporting from g1.