Man Arrested For Sawing Head Off Eight Months Pregnant Girlfriend With Table Knife

Cops have arrested a man for beheading his partner, who was eight months pregnant, with a table knife.

The arrest took place in the neighbourhood of Robalo in the city of Aracaju in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Sergipe on the morning of Thursday, 19th August.

The police arrived at the residence after neighbours reported hearing screams during the night.

Jackeline da Costa Melo who was eight months pregnant and was beheaded in Aracaju, Sergipe in Brazil in August 2021. (Newsflash)

The officers found 22-year-old Jackeline da Costa Melo’s lifeless body in the bathroom. On realising she was heavily pregnant, they called for an ambulance.

However, paramedics who arrived on the scene were unable to save the woman’s unborn baby girl – who was to be named Maria Alice – as she lacked vital signs.

Officers arrested 31-year-old Edielson Santos Vidal at the scene.

Jackeline da Costa Melo who was eight months pregnant and was beheaded in Aracaju, Sergipe in Brazil in August 2021. (Newsflash)

They also discovered that a car found outside the residence with licence plates from Mato Grosso do Sul was subject to a restraining order.

The couple had only been living in the residence for around 10 days. They had moved to Aracaju from Jackeline’s hometown – the city of Campo Grande in the west-central state of Mato Grosso do Sul – last year.

Jackeline had left her family in Campo Grande to move to Aracaju with Edielson, with whom she had been in a relationship since they met online in 2017.

Jackeline da Costa Melo (left) who was eight months pregnant and was beheaded in Brazil in August 2021, in a photo with the suspect, Edielson Santos Vidal (right). (Newsflash)

Edielson is from Aracaju, but had previously moved to Campo Grande after starting the relationship with Jackeline, who was studying law at the time. The two went on to run a motorcycle taxi service in the city.

The motive for the crime is unclear. However, the victim’s sister, Leticia, described the couple’s relationship as abusive and toxic.

She told reporters that Edielson constantly attacked and harassed her younger sister.

Jackeline da Costa Melo who was eight months pregnant and was beheaded in Aracaju, Sergipe in Brazil in August 2021. (Newsflash)

She also revealed he had even convinced her mum to buy him a car so he could work as a taxi driver – which never happened.

Leticia believes Edielson took her sister to Aracaju to separate her from her relatives, who had tried to convince her that Edielson was a bad influence, and to avoid paying back his debt with her mother.

She told reporters: “He took Jackeline away and held her against her will. He controlled absolutely everything she did. Her life was over. He took her away to die. He killed her in cold blood.

Jackeline da Costa Melo (left) who was eight months pregnant and was beheaded in Brazil in August 2021, in a photo with the suspect, Edielson Santos Vidal (right). (Newsflash)

“She was expecting a child. He didn’t give her the chance to defend herself. He was cruel. He ended everything.”

Despite his controlling and abusive behaviour, Leticia said that her sister was in love with Edielson and believed he would change.

Jackeline was cremated in Aracaju. Edielson confessed to the crime and was taken into preventive custody.

Jackeline da Costa Melo (right) who was eight months pregnant and was beheaded in Brazil in August 2021, in a photo with the suspect, Edielson Santos Vidal (left). (Newsflash)

The case is ongoing.