This app taxi driver and martial arts lover has been found dead inside the locked boot of her car with a sock stuffed in her mouth after workers noticed a bad smell emanating from the vehicle.

The lifeless body of Michelle Chinol, 39, who worked as an app taxi driver, was found in the boot of her car in the neighbourhood of Ganchinho in the city of Curitiba in the southern Brazilian state of Parana on Wednesday night, 16th February.

Her last contact with relatives was on Monday, 14th February, and suspicions were raised when the woman, who loved martial arts and working out, failed to turn up to her gym.

It was on Wednesday afternoon that workers noticed a bad smell emanating from a vehicle. They called the Municipal Guard, who called in a locksmith to open the car.

When they noticed there was a body in the boot, they called the Civil Police (Brazil’s investigative police force).

Forensic scientists reportedly found dozens of fingerprints, which they hope will help them to solve the case.

The victim, who was found with a sock stuffed in her mouth, was not found to have had any run-ins with the law.

The body was autopsied and released to relatives on Thursday afternoon.

According to the Civil Police, the main line of investigation is murder and robbery following death.

Police spokesman Victor Menezes said: “It wasn’t possible to see any injury marks, just a small cut on the wrist. At present, there is no indication of any serious social breakdown, any dispute, any threat, or involvement in criminality. The motive should be explained in more detail in the coming days.”

The Civil Police have appealed for anyone with information about the case to get in touch.