08.11.2026 07:40
In Brazil, a Chinese shopkeeper invited an 18-year-old girl who did not reciprocate his love to his home under the pretext of a gift and strangled her to death. The young girl's body was found torn apart by two pit bulls, while the defendant, who confessed to the horrific murder, was sentenced to 38 years in prison.
The femicide in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sent chills down the spine with the details that emerged. Chinese citizen Qiu Zhaohu killed 18-year-old Marcelle Júlia Araújo da Silva, whom he had known for years, because she did not want to have a romantic relationship with him. Zhaohu, who moved the young girl's lifeless body to another property of his and left it in an area where two pit bulls were kept, was sentenced to 38 years in prison by the court he was brought before.
HE HAD KNOWN HER FOR 10 YEARS AND FREQUENTED HER FAMILY'S HOME
It was learned that Qiu Zhaohu, who ran a stall selling yakisoba noodles in the area and was known by the nickname Xau, had known Marcelle and her family for at least 10 years. Zhaohu, who frequently attended celebrations and barbecue parties organized by the family, was known in his circle as a reliable and friendly person. However, according to the prosecution, Zhaohu gradually began to develop a romantic interest in the young girl. Marcelle, however, stated that she wanted to remain only friends with him and did not reciprocate this approach.
HE INVITED HER TO HIS HOME UNDER THE PRETEXT OF A GIFT
In the incident that took place in June 2025, Zhaohu invited Marcelle to his home, insisting that she pick up a gift basket he said he had prepared for Valentine's Day. In security camera footage, the young girl was seen entering the house in the morning hours. However, no footage was found showing Marcelle leaving the house. Hours later, it was determined that Zhaohu left his home pushing a wheelbarrow covered with a blue tarp.
HE LEFT HER BODY WHERE TWO PIT BULLS WERE
The young girl's lifeless body was found wrapped in a tarp at another property belonging to Zhaohu. Examinations determined that the body had been partially torn apart by two pit bulls. After the murder, Zhaohu fled Rio de Janeiro and was caught in a joint operation organized by police teams in São Paulo. It was also reflected in witness testimony that the suspect, who confessed during questioning to strangling Marcelle to death, sent a message to a person after the incident saying, 'I already killed her, now I will kill myself.'
38-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FROM THE COURT
Qiu Zhaohu, who accepted the crimes of femicide and concealing a body, was sentenced to 38 years in prison in the trial held on October 29. In his ruling, the judge emphasized that the incident was a typical example of femicide and stated that leaving the young girl's body to the dogs was extremely horrifying. Drawing attention to the pain experienced by Marcelle's family, the judge especially emphasized the indescribable suffering caused by the mother learning what fate her daughter had met.