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Three Women Charged in Rio ‘Goodnight Cinderella’ Scam

Authorities have charged three women in Rio de Janeiro’s ‘Goodnight Cinderella’ case, with toxicology results pending, a suspect’s overturned conviction complicating prosecution.

A view of the Ipanema coast in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 19th.
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A British tourist was filmed collapsing on a beach in Brazil after allegedly being drugged.

Overview

  • Three suspects—Amanda Couto Deloca, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva and Raiane Campos de Oliveira—were formally charged after police used viral beach footage and CCTV to identify them.
  • A 21-year-old British engineering student collapsed unconscious on Ipanema beach after drinking a reportedly spiked caipirinha, and a delivery worker’s video prompted emergency services and police action.
  • Investigators from the Civil Police and the Special Tourism Support Unit have ordered toxicology tests to identify the sedative used and are interviewing witnesses and reviewing CCTV for possible accomplices.
  • Victims say two phones were stolen and about £16,000 was transferred from their accounts, though authorities report only £2,000 was withdrawn before banks froze the transactions and are reconciling the totals.
  • Prosecutors face hurdles after Oliveira’s recent six-month sentence for a similar offence was overturned on appeal, underscoring the challenges of securing convictions in drink-spiking scams.