Valeska Barboza
Age 3625 Apr 2026
Brasília, Distrito Federal (Brazil)
Stabbed
Valeska was found dead in her apartment. Some of her belongings were missing.
Relatives of Valeska Barboza, 36, are trying to understand what happened to the elderly caregiver who was brutally murdered inside her own apartment in Santa Maria (DF). The transgender woman's body was found on Saturday night (April 25) with signs of violent death.
The victim had been missing since last Wednesday (April 22). The military was called after a friend reported her disappearance and noticed a strong odor coming from the property where she lived, which was locked.
In an emotional account, the victim's sister, Sandra Amâncio, described the last few days before the crime and raised suspicions about the possible motive. According to her, the victim had taken in a man from São Paulo, whom she was trying to help start a new life. "She brought him into her home, helped him send out resumes, tried to find him a job. But, towards the end, he no longer wanted help," she said.
Faced with the situation, Valeska reportedly asked the man to leave the property, which, according to the family, may have motivated the crime. The sister claims that a neighbor witnessed an argument between the two on Tuesday (April 21), the last day the victim was seen.
Valeska had been rescued and adopted as a baby after her birth family tried to bury her alive. She was reportedly "a happy person, who loved life and made everyone smile”.
The life story of Valeska Barbosa, 36, a transgender woman found dead inside her home in the Porto Rico Condominium, in Santa Maria, last Saturday (April 25), is marked by survival since birth and a history of affection with the family that took her in. The victim's sister, Sandra Amâncio, 53, recalled the past and the last days before the crime, and demanded justice.
According to Sandra, Valeska was adopted as a baby after a traumatic event. “She was born in my arms, at home. The daughter of a friend. She was very small, but perfect. Then, they tried to bury her alive, and I was desperate,” she recounted. The sister reports that she mobilized her own family to rescue the baby. “We went back to the place, searched until we heard her crying. That's how we managed to save her. My mother decided to adopt her and raised her as her daughter, with a lot of love,” she stated.
Raised alongside her six siblings, Valeska always knew her history and, according to her family, transformed her pain into strength. “She was an incredible human being, with a huge heart, very cheerful. She liked to help everyone, she didn't discriminate against anyone,” said Sandra. “She left a very beautiful mark on the lives of those who knew her,” she affirmed.
Shaken, Sandra describes the family's pain at the loss. “We can't believe it. It's a very great pain. She was a happy person, who loved life and made everyone smile,” she stated. The family is now seeking answers and accountability for the crime. “We just want justice,” she said.
