Woman, 19, and her girlfriend, 23, are arrested on suspicion of killing hotel worker and chopping off his fingers so they can access £60,000 inheritance on his mobile banking in Portugal
- Maria Malveira, 19, and Mariana Fonseca, 23, were named locally as the suspects
- Women detained after Diogo Goncalves’ body parts were discovered in Algarve
- Goncalves, 21, received over £60,000 after his mother was run over in 2016
- His slaying is alleged to have happened between Mar. 20-25 at their home
A couple have been arrested on suspicion of killing a hotel worker and chopping off his fingers to access his bank account from his mobile and steal a £60,000 inheritance.
The women were held after parts of Diogo Goncalves’ dismembered body was discovered in different parts of the Algarve.
Portuguese police have confirmed they have arrested two women aged 19 and 23 on suspicion of murdering a 21-year-old man and desecrating his body.
Local reports say security worker Maria Malveira, 19, allegedly promised Diogo a lap dance so she could tie him to a chair before strangling him and dismembering and dumping his body over nearly a week with the help of nurse lover Mariana Fonseca.
Maria Malveira (left), who reportedly had a secret affair with Diogo before moving in with Mariana Fonseca (right), is accused of dismembering him with her lover between March 20 and March 25 at their home near the Algarve town of Lagos
The women were held after parts of Diogo Goncalves’ (pictured) dismembered body was discovered in different parts of the Algarve
His head was found in Tavira and his torso an hour and a half’s drive west in Sagres at the western end of the Algarve.
His arms and feet, also thought to have been dumped in Tavira after being cut off with a sword and a meat cleaver, are yet to be found.
The victim is said to have received more than £60,000 after his mother was run over in July 2016 in Guia near Albufeira
Faro police Antonio Madureira has told local press the gruesome murder was thought to be financially motivated and involved the alleged use of the victim’s unique prints on his chopped-off fingers to access his bank details on his phone and transfer money from his bank account.
The victim is said to have received more than £60,000 after his mother was run over in July 2016 in Guia near Albufeira.
Malveira, who reportedly had a secret affair with Diogo before moving in with Fonseca, is accused of dismembering him with her lover between March 20 and March 25 at their home near the Algarve town of Lagos.
His body parts were found two days later.
The suspected killers have been remanded in prison after appearing before a judge in a closed-court hearing.
A Policia Judiciaria spokesman said in a statement: ‘The PJ has identified and arrested two women on suspicion of a crime of murder and profanation of a body.
‘The crimes occurred in the Algarve region between March 20 and 25.
Mariana Fonseca (left and right) allegedly helped her girlfriend to dispose of the body
‘The victim, a Portuguese citizen aged 21 who lived on the Algarve, was dismembered and parts of his body have been found in the areas of Sagres and Tavira.
‘The police investigation sparked by the appearance of the body parts in the Tavira area led to the obtention of important evidence and the identification and arrest of the suspects.
‘The detainees are aged 19 and 23 and have a clean criminal record.’