The body of a popular fitness influencer was dumped outside her parents’ house in Brazil after her husband killed her during a heated argument, reports say.
Debora Michels, 30, was found on a pavement in Montenegro, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the early hours of Friday, January 26.
Police believe she was killed by her husband of 10 years, who then heartlessly ditched her lifeless body outside her parents’ home.
Michels, known as Deby, was found covered in a red blanket yards from the house.
The suspect reportedly told the police that the pair had gotten into a heated argument that became physical.
Debora Michels, 30, was found on a pavement in Montenegro, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the early hours of Friday, 26th January
Police believe Debora was killed by her husband of 10 years (pictured together), who then heartlessly ditched her lifeless body outside her parents’ home
The husband, named in Brazil as Alexander Gunsch, is said to have grabbed Deby around her neck before lifting her up and throwing her against a wardrobe.
At this point, he told police his bodybuilder wife started to feel sick and soon lost consciousness, according to local reports.
He then took Deby to hospital for medical attention, but after realising that she was dead, he ditched her on the pavement in front of the house, local media said.
Citing the Military Brigade (BM), the Correio Do Povo newspaper reports that CCTV footage captured the moment the suspect removed Deby’s body from his car and placed it on the pavement.
He has since been remanded in custody by the police, whose request for an extension of the detention period was granted on Saturday evening.
Debora’s funeral took place on Saturday, January 27, before being buried in the Municipal Cemetery of Montenegro at around 11am the same day.
Her outraged and heartbroken brother Alex Michels told local media: ‘This situation is revolting. What our family wants is justice. You cannot leave anyone unpunished.’
He added that Deby had wanted to leave Gunsch before the tragedy.
‘The family is having a lot of strength to endure this situation,’ Alex Michels said, according to Correio Do Povo.
‘The community is terrified. The day before the crime, he and my father talked about separating. Everything seemed to be fine, until my parents woke up to find their daughter dead in front of the house,’ he said.
And her close friend Deise Chemelo said: ‘Debora was a magnetic person. She lit up every place she went; she only had friends, and she only did good.
‘A fighter, an entrepreneur, there is no explanation for what happened. She didn’t deserve it. We don’t understand.’
According to Cleusa Spinato, a woman’s aid advocate at a Specialised Police Station, Gunsch surrendered and confessed to the crime when police visited his address on Saturday.
Ms Spinato said police were treating the case as femicide, and that Gunsch was the main suspect in the death of his wife.
Michels, known as Deby, was found covered in red cloth yards from the house, Brazilian reports say. The suspect reportedly told the police that the pair had gotten into a heated argument that got physical
Deby was popular on Instagram and had thousands of followers who would tune in to her posts that would educate them about her life as a trainer
The police investigation is ongoing.
Deby posted to social media as a personal trainer and content creator.
She was popular on Instagram, and had thousands of followers who would tune in to her updates that would give insights into her lifestyle and work as a trainer.
Pictures on social media also show Deby with her husband, often in the gym together, flexing their muscles.
