In a bizarre incident in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a woman was arrested after she was caught on video attempting to use the corpse of an elderly man to co-sign a bank loan. Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes was recorded at a bank branch trying to manipulate the deceased man’s hand to sign financial documents for a $3,400 loan.
The surreal scenario unfolded when Nunes wheeled the body of 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga into the bank, propped him onto a chair, and attempted to have him sign the loan paperwork. Throughout the process, she was caught speaking to the lifeless body as if he could respond, urging him to “sign the loan contract” and not to give her “any more headaches.”
Bank staff became suspicious due to the man’s unusual color and unresponsiveness. When confronted by a bank worker who noted that Braga did not appear well, Nunes casually dismissed these concerns, stating that he was “like that” and didn’t say much, even questioning aloud to the deceased if he wanted to visit the hospital again.
The situation escalated quickly as alarmed bank employees called the police. Upon their arrival, authorities determined that Braga had been dead for several hours before being brought to the bank. Nunes, who referred to Braga as her uncle, was arrested at the scene.
The police are investigating the exact circumstances surrounding Braga’s death and the specifics of the alleged fraud attempt. Initial reports from the scene suggest that Nunes could face charges ranging from theft through fraud and embezzlement to the abuse of a corpse. The police chief mentioned the importance of identifying other family members and understanding more about the intended loan, indicating that the investigation might broaden to include other potential accomplices.