An actor who went missing nearly four months ago has been found dead and buried in a wooden trunk underground.
Jefferson Machado, 44, was a soap actor who starred in Brazilian show Reis, and also worked in production and set design.
The 44-year-old was last seen on January 27 and was officially declared missing nearly two weeks later on February 9, when his eight dogs were reported abandoned at his home in Rio de Janeiro, with two of them tragically dying.
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His mother, Maria das Dores, 73, told local press she had last spoken to him on January 29 and that he had told her he was staying at a friend’s home while interviewing for a job.
(Image: jeffmachadocosta/Instagram)
She had become worried when she received text messages littered with spelling errors stating that he had dropped his phone in the toilet and was thus unable to video call her.
His video cloud password was then changed and his location was deactivated, causing his family to worry further.
Machado was finally found on Monday (May 22) when cops searched an outhouse at a property in Rio and discovered his body tied up and stuffed inside a wooden trunk buried 6.5ft under the floor of the structure.
The property belongs to a woman who said she rented the outhouse to an unnamed person who is believed to have known Machado, with the actor seen to be entering it last month.
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Police have identified the man renting the outhouse and are treating him as a suspect, despite not naming him publicly.
Nine people were needed to remove the trunk from the ground and the victim’s identity was confirmed by his fingerprints.
The trunk he was found inside actually belonged to the actor and had been taken from his home.
News of Jefferson’s death was announced by a friend of his on Instagram, with Cintia Hilsendeger writing: “It is with great sadness we report that Jeff was found on 05/22/2023 lifeless.
“Jefferson was brutally murdered by jealous, evil and of course, unscrupulous people. More info coming soon RJ Township Police did an excellent job!”
“Thank you so much to everyone who helped with every little detail. Prayers, good thoughts is what Jeff needs right now.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
