Teenager killed his father, mother, and little brother because they opposed his Fortnite romance
Teenager murdered his family after being banned from traveling to meet his virtual girlfriend, with whom he interacted through Fortnite
A shocking case has shaken Brazil: a 14-year-old teenager confessed to murdering his parents and his younger brother, just 3 years old, after his parents opposed a virtual relationship he had with a 15-year-old girl, whom he met playing Fortnite. The tragedy occurred in the city of Itaperuna, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and has left the country shocked by the coldness and premeditation with which the crimes were carried out.
According to authorities, the teenager used his father's gun—a sports shooter—to commit the murders on the night of Saturday, June 21. He shot his parents, Antônio Carlos Teixeira (45) and Ana Flávia de Oliveira Freitas Teixeira (37), in the head while they were sleeping, and then killed his younger brother by shooting him in the neck, claiming he did so to "spare him the suffering" of losing his parents.
The bodies were found three days later, hidden inside a cistern in the backyard of the family home, after the paternal grandmother noticed the family members' prolonged absence and took the teenager to give a statement to the police.
Initially, the young man tried to cover up the crime by fabricating a story about a domestic accident, but the story quickly crumbled in the face of forensic evidence.
During interrogation, the teenager displayed complete coldness, confessing without remorse. According to Police Chief Carlos Augusto Guimarães, the young man even stated that he has no regrets and that he "would do it again."
One line of investigation suggests that the motive for the crime was his parents' prohibition against him traveling to Mato Grosso to meet his virtual girlfriend.
The 15-year-old girl was questioned by police and admitted to having spoken to the attacker during and after the crime. Her behavior, described as "cold" by investigators, is being analyzed to determine whether there was any instigation or complicity.
The relationship between the two teenagers reportedly began when he was 8 and she was 10, through an online gaming platform (Fortnite).
During the search of the home, evidence of premeditation was found: a suitcase packed for escape, the victims' cell phones, traces of blood, and internet searches on how to claim unemployment benefits for deceased persons.
The teenager's father had around 33,000 reais (about $6,000) in that fund, which the young man allegedly planned to use to escape.
The murder weapon was later found at the grandmother's house, and she removed it from the family home after the crime to prevent her grandson from accessing it again. Police ruled out any prior knowledge of the events.
The Brazilian courts have charged the minor with aggravated triple homicide and concealment of a corpse, although due to his age, the case remains under seal.