Suspect of robbing and beating 88-year-old woman to death inside store is arrested in SC | Santa Catarina

The Civil Police arrested the main suspect in the robbery – robbery followed by death – of businesswoman Olívia Steffens, 85 years old, found dead with signs of being beaten inside her own clothing store in Pinhalzinho, in the west of Santa Catarina. The investigation showed that she was beaten to death, with her body being found in the establishment’s bathroom on Tuesday (2).

The 22-year-old criminal was located hours later, said delegate Lucas Almeida. The capture took place in partnership with the Criminal Investigation Police Station (DIC) in the neighboring city of Maravilha.

Almeida added that he confessed to the crime and that he killed the elderly woman to steal. He was recognized after security camera images identified his movement.

“He tried in every possible way to hide. A backpack was later found that he carried with him all the time, and he allegedly entered the victim’s house with this very characteristic backpack, which was found in his house”, added the delegate.

The arrest took place in the house where the man lived. According to the police chief, he even traveled to the city of Chapecó, the largest in the region, after the crime, but returned to Pinhalzinho.

Elderly woman is murdered in the center of Pinhalzinho, SC

The Military Police were called around 8am. A friend of the victim told police that she arrived at the store and saw that the establishment was in disarray. She called for the elderly woman, but received no response.

A firefighter who was in the barbershop next to the store went to the scene and found the victim already lifeless in the establishment’s bathroom.

Olívia Steffens owned the store, which sold clothes, and lived on the top floor of the establishment.

“She was beaten to death. These are the first impressions, but only with the cadaver report for sure”, believes the police chief.