A young girl, Maria Clara Aguirre Lisboa, was tragically buried alive by her parents, Luiza Aguirre Barbosa da Silva and Rodrigo Ribeiro Machado, as revealed by a forensic report. Her body was discovered in a shallow grave covered with cement at their residence. Both parents are currently in police custody and have admitted to the crime.
The post-mortem examination determined that the five-year-old died from being buried alive, with soil found in her windpipe indicating she was still breathing during the burial. Additionally, the report noted head injuries consistent with blunt force trauma prior to the burial in Itapetininga, Brazil. Although Maria Clara’s body was found on October 14, 2025, forensic experts estimate she had been buried for approximately 20 days.
Concerns were raised earlier in October when Maria Clara’s paternal grandfather reported her missing. Child Protective Services had been monitoring the family following previous incidents involving threats made by the stepfather. Police uncovered a disturbing audio message from Machado to the girl’s father, where he callously stated that the child was deceased.
Machado, known as “ruthless brother” in the PCC gang, is accused of both physically and psychologically abusing Maria Clara and her mother. The couple is set to appear in court on May 19, facing charges of murder and body concealment. Maria Clara’s aunt expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of her niece, condemning the cruel and unjust manner in which her life was taken.
