SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – The body of prominent Brazilian YouTuber Carlos Medeiros was found in a shallow grave in the backyard of a São Paulo residence after going missing on Christmas Day.
The 26-year-old digital content creator, known for his viral pranks and jokes, had told his family he was attending a late holiday dinner with childhood friends. He was last known to have been present at a local fireworks show on Christmas, after which he vanished. His body was discovered on New Year’s Eve.
The owners of the home where Medeiros was found, a 28-year-old male and his 24-year-old pregnant wife, turned themselves into the police on Monday, according to Brazilian news outlet G1. Subsequently, they were placed in pre-trial detention for a month.
The couple claimed Medeiros suffered a heart attack following cocaine consumption at their property. They stated that in lieu of seeking medical attention for him, they chose to bury Medeiros in their backyard due to fear.
These statements came after the couple had initially fabricated a story about Medeiros leaving their home post-dinner and even made public pleas on social media for assistance in locating the missing influencer.
Following Medeiros’ disappearance, his family and local community embarked on an extensive search, examining nearby hospitals and forests. Suspicion arose when a neighbor noticed that soil near the couple’s home appeared to have been recently disturbed, and clothing belonging to Medeiros was found within the house. Firefighters subsequently unearthed Medeiros’ body from a pit on the property.
Civil Police Chief Luis Faria reported that no signs of violence were evident on the influencer’s body and the incident is now being treated as a homicide. Investigations are underway to discern whether Medeiros’ death resulted from a murder or drug overdose.
Implications that Medeiros might have had an intimate encounter with the male friend’s underage sister are also being probed, as this was a claim that police are scrutinizing.
According to Police Chief Faria, the charges against the couple depend heavily on the findings of a pending autopsy. If Medeiros’ death is ruled accidental, the couple will face charges involving the concealment of a corpse. In contrast, a murder verdict would result in their prosecution for homicide.
Robson Casemiro, a close friend of Medeiros, revealed to Metropoles, a Brazilian news outlet, that the YouTuber’s demeanor shifted dramatically following his father’s death in 2023, leading him to discontinue his video content creation and sparking a drug addiction.