An actor who had been missing for over four months was discovered dead and buried in a wooden trunk beneath.
Jefferson Machado, 44, was a Brazilian soap opera star who also worked in production and set design.
The 44-year-old was last seen on January 27 and was proclaimed missing nearly two weeks later on February 9, when his eight canines were found abandoned at his Rio de Janeiro house, two of which unfortunately died.
His mother, Maria das Dores, 73, told local media that she last talked with him on January 29 and that he informed her he was living at a friend’s house while applying for a job.
She became concerned after receiving text messages riddled with spelling problems in which he stated that he had dropped his phone in the toilet and was consequently unable to video call her.
His video cloud password was subsequently changed, and his location was deleted, raising more concern among his family.
On Monday (May 22), officers examined an outhouse at a Rio property and discovered Machado’s body tied up and placed into a wooden trunk buried 6.5ft beneath the structure’s floor.
The property is owned by a lady who claims she rented the outhouse to an anonymous individual who is thought to know Machado, and the actor was observed accessing it last month.
Despite not identifying him publicly, police have identified the individual renting the outhouse and are considering him as a suspect.
The trunk had to be lifted from the ground by nine workers, and the victim’s fingerprints proved his identification.
The trunk he was discovered in belonged to the actor and had been stolen from his house.
News of Jefferson’s death was announced by a friend of his on Instagram, with Cintia Hilsendeger writing: “It is with great sadness we report that Jeff was found on 05/22/2023 lifeless.
“Jefferson was brutally murdered by jealous, evil and of course, unscrupulous people. More info coming soon RJ Township Police did an excellent job!”
“Thank you so much to everyone who helped with every little detail. Prayers, good thoughts is what Jeff needs right now.”
