Buried underground, filled with concrete
The body of Brazilian soap opera actor Jefferson Machado, aged 44, was found in Rio de Janeiro last week. The remains were placed inside a wooden crate and covered with concrete, buried six feet deep. News reports describe the discovery as made in the backyard area near a residence in Campo Grande, a western district of the city.
Officials say the chest containing the body was located beside a washing area behind a multi-story building, and it took nine people to recover the remains. Investigators indicate that Machado was murdered by strangulation, supported by evidence of a metal wire around the neck and hands bound at the time of death. Local authorities confirmed identification through fingerprint analysis, according to regional reporters.
The leading suspect is a man who rented the home where Machado’s body was found. Neighbors reported seeing him enter the property several months after Machado disappeared. Investigators note a prior acquaintance between the actor and the tenant, though the man’s name and motives remain undisclosed.
Legal counsel for Machado’s family stated that the investigation is being closely monitored. The attorney expressed sorrow and outrage on behalf of the family, emphasizing the distress caused by the circumstances surrounding Machado’s disappearance and death.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities pursue additional leads and verify timelines and connections between those involved.
Spelling errors given
Machado vanished at the start of 2023. Questions arose about his sudden disappearance. Family members were contacted after reports from animal rights advocates that Machado left eight dogs in his Rio de Janeiro home, where he lived alone. Machado’s mother, Maria das Dores, then 73, says her last conversation with her son occurred at the end of January. She described visiting a casting location in Sao Paulo and staying with a man there. A friend is also noted in reports as being present at that time.
Soon after, the family began receiving suspicious text messages on Machado’s behalf from his phone number, written with numerous typos. Calls to him were ignored after the phone reportedly malfunctioned and was submerged in water. Investigators later learned of changes to the cloud account credentials and the device location, prompting family members to contact police. The official missing person status was recorded on February 9, and it took roughly four months from the initial police contact to the body’s discovery.
During a home search, authorities found two undernourished dogs; the remaining six companions were taken to a shelter for care.
“I’m starting over”
A close friend of Machado’s family posted on a social platform: “Jefferson was murdered in cold blood and brutality by envious, evil, and unprincipled people.” The post drew attention amid ongoing discussions about the case’s impact on those who knew the artist. Earlier in February, a public message from Machado’s page read: “I’m starting over. Thank you.”
Machado began studying acting in 1997 and became known for his work in Brazilian television dramas. His last credited role appeared in a Record TV telenovela titled Flight, which aired in March 2022, where he portrayed a soldier. Prior to that, he played a leading role in the film The Placebo Effect, an project he co-wrote.