Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor:  James King, Agency: Newsflash

These pictures shows a boy and a girl playing a keyboard and guitar in their new house shortly before they were murdered together with both their parents and the building burned to the ground, apparently to cover up the crime.

Cops say they have now arrested a man for stabbing the family of four including the two children before causing the blaze to throw detectives off the scent.

The 31-year-old suspect was arrested in the Brazilian municipality of Ipuacu on 14th May following the horrific murder in the nearby municipality of Sao Domingos, which was discovered on the morning of 8th May.

The victims were identified as Neocir Rodigheri, aged 34, Raquel Aparecida Alves, aged 31, and their two children, Maria Eduarda and Joao Vitor, aged 10 and 11 respectively.

The happy family footage taken before the crime took place shows Maria and Joao singing and playing the keyboard and guitar together.

The identification process was complex, as the bodies were badly charred. Neocir had to be identified by his fingerprints and Raquel by her dental records.

The autopsy report revealed the victims had stab wounds, including to the necks of the adult victims.

The police believe the man killed the family members with a knife or similar weapon before setting fire to their home to complicate the investigation.

The police have not divulged the relationship between the suspect and the victims or the possible motive for the crime.

According to neighbours, the family had bought the property three months earlier.

The suspect remains in preventive custody as the investigation continues.

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