Brazilian police have made three new arrests in the case of 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas. The Brazilian died last week during a bungee jump in which she was allegedly pushed off a bridge without a rope. The three suspects are said to have made evidence of the tragedy disappear.
According to investigating judge Andréa Levy, the three suspects are part of the team that investigated the crime rope jumping organized from a bridge in Limeira (São Paulo), reports the Brazilian channel TV Globo.
There is evidence that they have made the 360-degree camera the young woman wore to film her jump and the footage on it disappear. The suspects are the boss of the Entrecordas company, Evelyne dos Santos Gonçalves (29), and two men aged 25 and 27.
Important for reconstruction
The camera used to capture the images has not yet been found, according to the regional channel EPTV. The device is considered an important element for the reconstruction of what exactly happened at the time of the tragedy.
The uncle of one of those arrested told EPTV that his cousin worked at the bottom of the bridge and helped release the jumpers. The other man is said to have pulled the rope back up on the bridge.
The lawyer for one of the men stated that one of them had seen the camera on the victim shortly after the fall. “He has seen the camera. It is also in his interest that the camera is recovered because he provided assistance,” he said.
Suspects appeared confused
The three suspects who were arrested on the day of the accident remain in custody for the time being. They are the instructors involved in the fateful jump. They are charged with manslaughter.
In addition to the arrests, the court also authorized searches of the suspects’ homes. Mobile phones, electronic equipment and other materials that could contribute to the investigation were seized.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas fell 40 meters from a bridge at rope jumpingan extreme sport that involves jumping from a high cliff while tethered to a long climbing rope attached to the top of the cliff with a fixed anchor system. In Maria’s case, the rope went wrong. Images that surfaced on social media show the woman being thrown into the abyss.
The young woman did not survive. A witness later stated that the instructors had not conducted a safety check. According to the police, the company that organized the activity was also not officially registered.
The detective leading the case said after questioning the first three suspects that they appeared confused and claimed not to remember who was responsible for tying the rope. They also could not say why they had not completed the final security check.
