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A Brazilian woman has been arrested in connection with the murder of an American businessman who was vacationing in Rio de Janeiro earlier this month.
Letícia Clara Bento da Silva, 23, was arrested on Monday. Police suspect she robbed and murdered D’wayne Antonio Morris, 43, in a Copacabana apartment, according to Metropolisesa Brazilian online newspaper.
Officials discovered the man’s body on August 8 after he arrived in the country the previous day. It is believed that da Silva, along with another unidentified woman, drugged Morris and his friend with the tranquilizer GHB before robbing them.
The drug caused Morris to have convulsions and foam at the mouth, the newspaper reported. If taken in large doses, the drug can lead to unconsciousness and respiratory depression, which can potentially lead to death.
In Brazil, such crimes are called “Goodnight, Cinderella” scams.
Officials said Morris and his friend, who survived the attack, met da Silva at a bar in the Lapa neighborhood. Morris and the two women then went to an apartment Morris was renting during his stay. The friend began to feel unwell and went to another location when he encountered police. He told them he felt dizzy and unwell, the outlet reported.
Meanwhile, Morris and the women arrived at the apartment after midnight. Two hours later, they were seen on surveillance video leaving the apartment in a black vehicle.
Da Silva’s criminal record shows that she has been accused of similar crimes in the past. She was sentenced to provisional detention on Monday and transferred to the country’s prison system.
Police are asking the public for help in identifying the other person involved.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family for their loss and stand ready to provide consular assistance,” the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro said, according to the New York Post.
“We are closely following the local authorities’ investigation into the cause of death. Out of respect for the family at this difficult time, we would like to make no further comment.”
According to LinkedIn, Morris was president of Minnesota-based Blue Waters Consulting.
Tamatha Richman, Morris’ partner, started a GoFundMe campaign to cover repatriation costs, funeral expenses and support her family in their grief over the loss of her husband. She said the family intends to bury him on his family’s land in Jamaica.
So far, $30,000 has been raised of a $50,000 goal.
“D’Wayne was a kind, enterprising man who brought joy to everyone around him,” Richman wrote. “He touched the lives of so many people.”
