Brazilian Prosecutor Kills Wife and Infant Son Before Taking Own Life in Suspected Murder-Suicide
- Victor Nwoko
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A Brazilian prosecutor allegedly shot and killed his wife and their two-month-old son before turning the gun on himself, just weeks after publicly praising them as the “best mother” and “cutest baby.”
The tragic incident occurred on the morning of June 6 in Limeira, a city northwest of São Paulo. The bodies of Rafael Horta, 40, his wife Cristiane Laurito, and their baby boy Théo were discovered inside the family’s upscale apartment. A firearm, registered to Horta, was found at the scene.
Horta’s father made the gruesome discovery after visiting the home to take his grandson to a medical appointment. When his calls at the door went unanswered, he entered the residence and found all three family members dead in a bedroom.
Investigators said Cristiane had sustained three gunshot wounds to the head, while Rafael and Théo each had one. Authorities believe the victims may have been shot while asleep. Police recovered Horta’s licensed firearm, along with three magazines and twelve rounds of ammunition.
Just three weeks prior, Horta had shared a heartfelt social media post featuring his wife and son, writing, “The cutest baby who has the best mother possible.” Despite the public affection, the family tragedy unfolded without warning, and the motive behind the killings remains under investigation.
According to his father, Horta had recently been granted a 30-day medical leave from his role as a legal prosecutor for the Limeira municipal council following psychiatric evaluation. His wife, Cristiane Laurito, was a finance and budget manager for the municipal council of nearby Campinas. She had served as a public employee since 2014.
The family was buried in Limeira on June 7, as the community continues to mourn the devastating loss.
