In January 2012, the lifeless body of Geralda Lúcia Ferraz Guabiraba, aged 54, was discovered near a well-known landmark by the roadside in Mairiporã. The circumstances surrounding her death immediately raised concerns.
Geralda, a homemaker and the wife of a commercial director at Grupo Estado, was found on January 14 in a position resembling a cross next to the Pedra da Macumba, a location with ties to religious rituals and dark legends. Her body exhibited disturbing signs – her eyes were absent, her face had been severely damaged, and a deep wound was visible on her neck, leading many to suspect a ritualistic killing.
The area around Pedra da Macumba, situated near kilometre 8 of Estrada da Santa Inês, was often strewn with items like candles, fruits, flowers, and animal parts commonly used in Afro-Brazilian religious ceremonies, enhancing the eerie atmosphere. Local residents attested to feeling uneasy passing by the site, with one neighbor, Oscar José Siqueira, expressing discomfort.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing Geralda’s car parked by the road that fateful night. A nearby shopkeeper recalled spotting a muscular man driving her car around 1:30 am, followed by another vehicle, hinting at a possible abduction scenario.
Investigations revealed that Geralda had searched for chumbinho, a potent rat poison, on her computer days before her demise. Initially, suspicions pointed towards foul play rather than suicide. The initial forensic analysis dismissed suicide, indicating that Geralda suffered fatal injuries from a sharp object, possibly while kneeling.
Various theories emerged, including ritualistic murder and revenge. However, further investigations, including interviews with Geralda’s family and an analysis of her computer and belongings, failed to establish a motive or suspect.
Subsequent toxicology tests confirmed the presence of lethal levels of chumbinho in Geralda’s system, aligning with her previous search history. The autopsy results debunked earlier assumptions of foul play, attributing the post-mortem injuries to scavenging rats and dismissing the notion of a ritualistic killing.
After an exhaustive two-and-a-half-year investigation, the Department of Homicides and Person Protection (DHPP) concluded that Geralda’s death was a suicide, ruling out any external involvement. Despite the closure of the case, public intrigue persisted due to the macabre setting and the unsettling state in which Geralda’s body was found, solidifying the incident as one of São Paulo’s most perplexing modern mysteries.