Cops arrested a man after his ex-wife was found dead with roses in one hand, a wedding ring in the other, and the phrase “died for confessing a betrayal” scribbled in pen on her forehead.

The dead body of kitchen assistant Elisangela Martins, aged 34, was found covered in stab wounds on her bed at her home in the Brazilian municipality of Contenda on Friday 18th June.

Cops arrested her ex-husband, 35-year-old Rudinilsom Martins, the following day. They took him to a police station, where he committed suicide just moments before he was due to give a statement.

According to police chief Vinicius Maciel, the suspect told officers he was a criminal gang member, prompting them to leave him in a cell alone.

However, when officers went to fetch him for questioning, he had hanged himself.

According to relatives, Elisangela and Rudinilsom were first cousins. They had previously been married and had broken up before rekindling their romance around a year ago.

Their relationship was reportedly marred by fights and rows.

The victim’s relatives first realised something was amiss on Friday 17th June, when Rudinilsom took Elisangela’s five-year-old son to Elisangela’s sister-in-law’s house.

He told her that he wanted to take Elisangela to a motel that night.

The woman’s relatives believe she may have already been killed by that point, as the child reportedly told his grandmother that he begged Rudinilsom not to kill his mum.

It is not known if the youngster witnessed the killing.

Elisangela’s relatives called the police, and officers went to her house the following day and broke down the door, where they came upon the macabre scene.

Regarding the phrase written on her forehead suggesting she had cheated on Rudinilsom, Elisangela’s friend, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters: “She would never do that.”

The friend added: “She was a warrior. She did not deserve this. She always took care of her son.”

Chief Maciel said: “I have been working here for six years and this was one of the most violent scenes I have ever seen regarding the number of blows that were meted out to the victim.”

According to reports, the suspect had been romantically involved with another woman after his first separation from Elisangela, and he had also threatened to kill her.

According to the police, there was an open arrest warrant for him for theft, and he was suspected of killing and dismembering a man inside prison in 2009.

He was also suspected of involvement in the murder of another woman he had been in a relationship with.

Despite the suspect’s suicide, the police will continue with the investigation.