ES businessman is found dead in a shallow grave in Cabo Frio, RJ, after his family was extorted
Criminals continued asking for money through PIX even after the death of Christiano Deorce Benedito, aged 54; body was located this Friday (6).
Quick Look
- Espírito Santo businessman Christiano Deorce Benedito, 54, was found dead in a shallow grave in Cabo Frio, RJ, after disappearing in October.
- Criminals extorted the family with transfers via PIX simulating kidnapping even after death and spread false accusations of rape to justify the crime.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Christiano Deorce Benedito, a wood businessman from Espírito Santo, arrived in Cabo Frio on October 20 for commercial deliveries and stayed at a hotel in the Aquarius neighborhood. The following day, he was lured by criminals and handed over to members of local drug trafficking, being murdered for property reasons. The family reported him missing on October 22.
The Civil Police found the body of businessman Christiano Deorce Benedito, from Espírito Santo, in Cabo Frio, RJ. Criminals continued simulating kidnapping even after the victim's death to extort the family.
According to police, drug dealers demanded bank transfers.
Also according to the investigation, to justify Christiano's execution before members of the community, those involved had falsely spread the word that the businessman was a rapist.
The Civil Police found the body of a businessman from Espírito Santo buried in a shallow grave in the Unamar neighborhood, in Cabo Frio, in the Lakes Region of Rio, in the early hours of this Friday (6). Christiano Deorce Benedito, 54, had disappeared in October.
After the crime, according to the police, traffickers began demanding bank transfers from family members and acquaintances, pretending that the businessman, in the wood industry, was still alive and held captive.
The case was investigated by the Anti-Kidnapping Police Station (DAS), after the Civil Police of Espírito Santo reported the disappearance of the businessman in Cabo Frio and informed about the demands for payments made to people close to the victim.
According to investigations, Christiano arrived in Cabo Frio on October 20 to make commercial deliveries and stayed at a hotel in the Aquarius neighborhood.
The following day, October 21, he was allegedly lured by criminals and handed over to members of the local drug trade. The businessman was murdered on the same day, according to the Civil Police, for property reasons.
Even after the victim's death, the criminals continued extortion, demanding transfers via PIX under the false argument that the businessman was kidnapped.
The family reported him missing on October 22nd. The following day, investigators tracked a bank transaction linked to a woman, who ended up arrested during the operation and will face charges of extortion.
On October 27, the police located Wallace Santos de Oliveira, known as WL, identified by investigations as the manager of drug trafficking in Unamar, Cabo Frio district. According to the Civil Police, upon receiving an arrest warrant, he reacted and exchanged gunfire with the agents.
Struck, he fell into a river and had his body rescued by teams from the Fire Department.
The investigations also led to the identification of Lucas Reis Lima de Freotas, aged 20. He was located this Thursday (5), in a hotel in Saquarema. During interrogation, he confessed to having participated in hiding the body and told the police the place where the body had been buried.
The team continued to Unamar, where they found the businessman's body in a shallow grave, used as a clandestine burial. The victim's truck was also located nearby.
Also according to the investigation, to justify Christiano's execution before members of the community, those involved had falsely spread the word that the businessman was a rapist.
The investigation shows that the group intended to raise R$4,000 through bank transfers required from family members and acquaintances. Furthermore, the criminals planned to trade the businessman's truck for approximately R$40,000.
Part of the value obtained from negotiating the vehicle would be allocated to the people who would have intermediated the extortion scheme, using bank accounts to receive the transfers.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Those involved will be charged with the crimes of homicide, extortion and concealment of a corpse.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What are the names of all the people involved in the extortion scheme?
- Was the amount of R$4,000 required via PIX actually transferred by family members?
- Who are the people who intermediated the scheme and would receive part of the value of the truck negotiation?






