A woman aged 33 was fatally stabbed by her former boyfriend who removed his ankle monitor that was meant to keep him away from her. Jessica Stappazzollo Custodio de Lima, a shop assistant from Brazil living in Italy, was brutally attacked at her ex-partner’s residence in Castelnuovo del Garda, Verona. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds, including fatal injuries to her heart, resulting in her death from haemorrhagic shock.
The perpetrator, Douglas Reis Pedroso, a Brazilian national, confessed to the murder during police interrogation before the Verona Court. Authorities revealed that Pedroso had tampered with the ankle tag designed to monitor his proximity to Jessica, allowing him to approach her undetected. This breach in the surveillance system has raised concerns about its efficacy in cases of high risk.
Prior to this tragic incident, Pedroso had a history of violence towards Jessica, with documented assaults dating back to August 2024. Despite previous arrests and warnings, he managed to evade the monitoring system by disabling the ankle monitor. Reports also indicated that Pedroso had a substance abuse problem, as evidenced by the discovery of cocaine and alcohol at his residence.
Following the murder, Pedroso contacted the authorities expressing suicidal intentions before being apprehended in Valeggio sul Mincio and detained in Verona. During questioning, he admitted to killing Jessica but claimed to have little recollection due to drug influence. Legal representatives described Pedroso as visibly shaken following his arrest.
Jessica’s family members expressed outrage over the failure to prevent the tragedy, citing previous reports made to the police about Pedroso’s abusive behavior. Despite withdrawing complaints due to threats from the perpetrator, Jessica had sought help from law enforcement. The incident has reignited discussions on strengthening laws against domestic violence and enhancing protection for victims of abuse.
Government officials are currently reviewing legislation to address such crimes, aiming to bolster measures that prevent violent offenders from approaching their victims and increase support for anti-violence initiatives.