Woman Dies After Burns at Candomblé Ceremony in Rio

Overview

• The victim, Caroline Pinto dos Santos, died on Thursday after 25 days in hospital with burns to about 65% of her body sustained during a ritual on June 13.
• Video recorded at the ceremony shows a man approaching a brazier and pouring a flammable liquid, after which flames rapidly spread and struck the victim.
• Family members identify the man in the footage as the husband of the ritual leader and say the couple have not been located since the incident.
• The case was first registered at the 35ª DP in Campo Grande and has been forwarded to the 33ª DP in Realengo, where police say diligences are ongoing to establish the facts.
• Caroline leaves three daughters and relatives have publicly demanded accountability, raising questions about the use of open flames in private religious ceremonies and what investigators will seek next.