A 45-year-old judge was found dead in a partly burned car in rural São Paulo state. Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
The car was found on the evening of October 7 on the Euclides Dotta dirt road near Fazenda Aliança, outside São João da Boa Vista. According to the police report, military police and firefighters found the body in the driver’s seat. The vehicle was on fire. A passing backhoe operator used the machine to cover it with earth and put out the flames. He said the smoke had prevented him from seeing that someone was inside.
Investigators found no apparent signs of violence or wounds from a firearm or a knife during the preliminary examination. A container with a strong smell of gasoline was found near the pedals. Police said there were no signs that property had been stolen. The victim was still wearing a wedding ring, and his wallet was in the car-door console. His identity was confirmed using a tattoo and identification documents.
Gustavo de Castro Campos was 45. He graduated in law from Braz Cubas University Center and joined São Paulo state’s judiciary in 2014. At the time of his death, he was a judge at the Second Court of the Mococa district. He leaves a nine-year-old daughter. The state court expressed condolences and praised his service.
Civil police have opened an investigation. Forensic examinations, a review of video footage and witness interviews have been ordered. The state public security department said the case was registered as a suspicious death, discovery of a body and recovery of a vehicle.