A 33-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend after he removed the ankle monitor meant to keep him away from her. Jessica Stappazzollo Custodio de Lima, originally from Brazil but residing in Italy, was attacked at her ex’s residence in Castelnuovo del Garda, Verona. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds, including fatal injuries to her heart, leading to her death from haemorrhagic shock as per the autopsy report.
Reports from Italian media revealed that the ex-partner, Douglas Reis Pedroso, a Brazilian national, confessed to murdering Jessica during police interrogation. He acknowledged his culpability in front of investigating judge Paola Vacca, who approved his detention pending trial. Prosecutors disclosed that Pedroso had tampered with the ankle tag designed to monitor his proximity to Jessica, raising concerns about the effectiveness of such surveillance systems in high-risk situations.
Earlier incidents of mistreatment and physical harm towards Jessica by Pedroso had been documented, with prior assaults dating back to August 2024. Despite being previously arrested for assaulting Jessica and being fitted with an ankle monitor prohibiting him from approaching her, Pedroso was found without the monitoring device during his recent arrest.
Following the tragic event, Pedroso contacted the Carabinieri to report his suicidal intentions, leading to the discovery of Jessica’s body at his residence. Subsequent investigations uncovered cocaine and alcohol at the scene, highlighting Pedroso’s history of substance abuse. The suspect was apprehended in Valeggio sul Mincio and subsequently detained in Verona, where he confessed to the crime but claimed memory loss due to drug influence.
Family members of the victim expressed their anguish over the failure to prevent the tragedy, citing prior reports to the authorities about Pedroso’s abusive behavior towards Jessica. Calls for stricter measures to protect victims of domestic violence have prompted legislative actions, with proposed bills aiming to enhance safeguards for individuals at risk of harm.
