New details have emerged around the story of a woman who wheeled her dead uncle into a bank in the hopes of securing a loan.
It turns out that Weekend at Bernie's isn't as far-fetched as we thought.
In case you missed it, Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes was captured on video standing beside her lifeless uncle, who sat slumped in a chair.
The distressing footage, initially aired by TV Globo, Brazil’s largest broadcaster, depicted Nunes addressing the deceased individual, imploring him to sign financial documents necessary for her loan application, as per the New York Post.
"Uncle, are you listening? You need to sign [the loan contract], I can’t sign for you," Nunes is heard saying in the video, urging the inert figure to grasp the pen firmly. "Sign so you don’t give me any more headaches, I can’t take it anymore," she adds.
Despite concerns raised by a bank worker about the man's deteriorated appearance, Nunes dismissed them, claiming that he "doesn’t say anything" and suggesting he might need to return to the hospital.
Disturbed by the unfolding scene, bank staff promptly began recording and alerted the authorities, leading to Nunes' arrest. Subsequent investigations revealed that the man, identified as 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga, had been deceased for several hours before being taken to the bank.
Police Chief Fábio Luiz stated: "She tried to pretend to get him to sign the loan. He already entered the bank dead."
New details about the story have emerged as an autopsy on Braga has been completed.
As reported by Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles, the cause of Braga's death has been listed as "bronchoaspiration and heart failure".
Nunes vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Her lawyer, Ana Carla de Souza Correa stated: "The facts did not occur as has been narrated. Paulo was alive when he arrived at the bank." Correa asserted that witnesses could attest to Nunes' innocence.
However, police chief Souza countered these claims, saying: "Anyone who sees that can see the person was dead."
Law enforcement officials indicated their intent to delve deeper into Braga's death and Nunes' relationship with him, as well as any involvement of other family members in the alleged attempt to commit bank fraud.
Nunes could potentially face charges including theft through fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of a corpse.
"The investigation is continuing to identify other family members and to find out if he was alive when the loan was arranged and when it dates from," Luiz added.
