Two sisters murdered after confusion with gang sign in photo
A city council candidate and her influencer sister were killed after a confusion related to a gang gesture
The murder of sisters Rayane and Rithiely Alves Porto, aged 25 and 28 respectively, has shocked Brazil. Rayane, a city council candidate, and Rithiely, a well-known influencer with more than 87,000 followers on Instagram, were kidnapped, tortured and murdered last Friday, September 13. The attack, which left her brother seriously injured, occurred after a possible confusion related to an accidental gang sign in a photograph posted on social media.
The events unfolded after the sisters posed for a photograph on the Jauru River, where an innocent hand gesture could have been interpreted as a sign from a rival gang. Shortly afterwards, they and two other men were kidnapped by a group of seven people, who took them to a house used as a hideout in Porto Esperidião, west of Brasilia.
According to witnesses, during the kidnapping, the victims were subjected to torture sessions that lasted several hours. The attackers demanded 100,000 reais from the victims' families.
One of the men managed to escape and alert the authorities, who arrived at the scene only to find Rayane and Rithiely murdered. The sisters showed signs of torture, including the amputation of some fingers and the cutting of their hair. Their brother was found with serious injuries, including the loss of an ear and cuts on the back of his neck.
Authorities have arrested ten people in connection with the crime, while a minor has been released after her involvement was ruled out.
Police Chief Higo Rafael reported that the perpetrators of the crime were on a video call with a prisoner at the Central State Penitentiary in Cuiabá, who apparently ordered the murder. The inmate was isolated after the investigation, and cell phones have been seized for forensic analysis.
Rayane, who belonged to the Republican Party, was buried next to her sister on September 15 in Glória d'Oeste. The political party demanded a prompt resolution of the case. The sisters came from a circus family, and on their social networks they expressed pride in their cultural heritage.
The investigation continues, and the police suspect that the publication of the photograph with the innocent gesture was the motive behind this tragic and confusing murder.