The parents of a four-year-old girl left their daughter orphaned after the couple died following a drug- and alcohol-fueled night celebrating the young child's birthday.
The victims were later identified as military police officer Jeferson Luiz Sagaz and nail salon owner Ana Carolina Silva. Officials said they were found dead inside their motel room tub on Aug. 11, 2025.
Dying in a Hot Tub
The couple reportedly lived in São José, Brazil, and had been together for two decades. They are believed to have spent the day drinking alcohol at a park to celebrate their daughter's fourth birthday. They then left their child with Sagaz's sister before having more fun together.
In a statement, police chief Felipe Simao said that the water in the tub where the victims were found had a temperature of more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, authorities found trace amounts of cocaine inside the room the couple was staying in, according to People.
The chief expert of the Scientific Police, Andressa Boer Fronza, said that the cause of death for both Sagaz and Silva was the dome. During a press conference, she said, "It was exogenous poisoning, favoring the process of heatstroke (heat-induced hypothermia), with intense dehydration, thermal collapse, among others."
All of these factors, she added, culminated in organic failure of the victims and their subsequent deaths. The expert summarized that what this meant is that the couple died due to "multifactorial conditions."
The case went to the police after Sagaz and Silva never showed up the next morning to pick up their four-year-old daughter. Police found the couple's bodies after analyzing CCTV footage and checking their car, Ladbible reported.
Leaving Their Daughter Orphaned
After officials conducted 16 forensic tests to rule out possible causes of death, such as drowning, carbon monoxide, foul play, or electric shock, they concluded that heat was the cause of the victims' untimely deaths.
Law enforcement authorities said Sagaz and Silva had no history of violence, and the latter's family said she was not a common drug user. This suggests that she may have been forced to use cocaine shortly before her death.
Simao added that the couple died as their bodies were not compatible with the use of cocaine combined with alcohol. He noted that the bigger issue in the case was when they were taking statements is that Sagaz and Silva did not have a habit of using the drug.
The case follows a similar incident where a student was found dead on her 22nd birthday after getting into a hot tub. The victim in that case was identified as Alexandra Sasarman, who was staying with friends to celebrate her special day, as per Mirror.
