The body of Jefferson Machado, a South American soap star who has been missing for four months, was found encased in cement, stuffed in a trunk and buried in the ground, according to a media reports.
Brazilian authorities confirmed that Jeff's remains were found deeply buried in the backyard of a home in Campo Grande, Brazil. The actor's family also confirmed the news on Facebook.
Jeff, who starred on the Brazilian religious telenovela "Reis," was first reported missing in late January after his eight dogs were found alone and abandoned — something friends said Jeff would have never intentionally done. Prior to the grisly discovery, Jeff had not been seen or heard from since Jan. 27, 2023.
After his remains were found, an attorney for Jeff's family released a statement indicating that the actor was strangled. The death, the lawyer admitted, was "brutal."
"It is with regret that I share the sad news of the passing of actor Jeff Machado, whose body was found with strangulation signs. This discovery confronts us with the cruelty present in our society, motivating us to seek truth and justice in the face of such impactful cases," Jairo Magalhães Pereira said. "Preliminary information indicates that the actor's body was found in a trunk, buried in a hole of considerable depth. This situation deeply saddens us and indignant in the face of the suffering faced by Jeff."
The home where Jeff's body was found belonged to his friend. That unidentified friend is now a person of interest in the crime.
"My commitment as a lawyer is to seek tirelessly for truth and justice. It is my responsibility to ensure that everyone involved in this brutal crime is held accountable and punished, and that Jeff's family finds the support they need to get through this very painful time," the attorney said.
Jairo told Record TV Rio in Rio De Janeiro that Jeff's neck had a "line" in it and he was identified using fingerprints.
"He had his arms tied behind his head and buried in a trunk that is very similar to the ones in his own house," he said.