Influencer stabbed to death in shopping centre by 'cleaner who felt rejected'

Daily Mirror

13-06-2025

Tais Bruna de Castro, 36, was having lunch at a mall in São Paulo, Brazil, when she was allegedly ambushed by a janitor who had developed feelings for her
A Brazilian book influencer and travel agent has been tragically killed in a horrific stabbing incident.
Tais Bruna de Castro, 36, was having lunch on Monday, June 2, at the Beco Fino shopping centre in the Jundiaí neighbourhood of São Paulo when she was was stabbed to death.
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Without warning, the knifeman launched a frenzied knife attack, stabbing Bruna more than 20 times in front of shocked bystanders. Claudio Elizeu, a 40-year-old cleaner at the same complex, was arrested at the scene, CNN Brazil reports.
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According to local police, Elizeu, who was employed as a janitor at the mall, told investigators that he killed Tais because she had no interest in pursuing a relationship with him. Authorities say there is no evidence that the two shared a close personal relationship.
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After the stabbing, Elizeu allegedly broke into an office inside the shopping centre, where he smashed windows and furniture before police arrested him, the Daily Mail reports.
Bruna was declared dead at the scene. The case is being investigated under the country's femicide protocol, with her senseless killing being just another example of the high levels of gender-based violence in Latin America.
Bruna was well known among literary circles online. She ran a blog titled Reader Fashion , where she shared book recommendations, literary commentary, and engaged with a growing community of followers. She also worked as a travel agent in the same shopping centre where the attack took place.
Following her death, Bruna's family posted a heartfelt message on her Instagram account, which had over 8,000 followers, thanking her audience for their support and honouring her passion for literature.
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"This week, our dear Tais Bruna, the owner of this profile, left us in a very sad and unbelievable way," the post read. "'Reader Fashion' was one of her greatest joys. Talking about books, recommending new reads, and interacting with you brought light into her days. We, her family, sincerely thank you for the messages and prayers. Tais, we will love you forever."
Her death is part of a disturbing trend of violence against women, particularly influencers and public figures, in Latin America.
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Just weeks before Bruna's murder, Colombian model and influencer María José Estupiñán, 22, was shot at point-blank range by a gunman disguised as a delivery driver. The shooting occurred outside her home in the northeastern city of Cúcuta, and was captured on chilling CCTV footage. Her mother can be heard screaming, 'No, not my daughter!' as the gunman fled the scene.
In another recent case, Mexican TikTok star and beautician Valeria Márquez, 23, was gunned down while live streaming from her salon, Blossom the Beauty Lounge, in the state of Jalisco. The graphic footage shows her looking out the window moments before gunshots rang out, striking her in the chest and head.
These incidents have sparked renewed calls for more robust protections for women and public figures in the region. Advocacy groups continue to demand urgent action from governments to address the systemic violence that disproportionately targets women, both online and offline.