Contract killer 'faked pregnancy then killed ex with poisoned milkshake'
Ana Paula Velloso Fernandes, 36, is under investigation for four murders in Brazil, including an alleged plot in which she handed her ex-boyfriend a milkshake laced with poison
A Brazilian woman allegedly killed her ex-boyfriend by handing him a milkshake laced with poison.
Ana Paula Velloso Fernandes, 36, is suspected of murdering at least four people - including her 21-year-old ex-boyfriend, Ryder Maheris - over a five-month period in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Investigators claim Fernandes and her twin sister, Roberta, faked a pregnancy to pressure Ryder into staying with her. When he ended the relationship, Fernandes allegedly hatched a deadly plan: she bought a milkshake, spiked it and delivered it to his home. Ryder fell violently ill and died soon afterward.
"Ana Paula pretended to help him as he was dying. She even sent a video to her sister, who was fully aware of the plan. Soon after, Ryder died," said Chief Inspector Halisson Ideiao.
READ MORE: Israel kills five Gaza Palestinians 'for crossing IDF-Hamas ceasefire line'READ MORE: Horror as son gets crushed to death by grape press in front of helpless dadBoth sisters are now in custody, according to local outlet G1. Fernandes has admitted involvement in several crimes but denies using poison, while the sisters’ lawyers reject all accusations.
Authorities believe her first victim was Marcelo Fonseco, allegedly poisoned in Guarulhos in January after Fernandes moved in as a renter. The second was Maria Aparecida Rodrigues, whom she met on a dating app. Rodrigues was found dead in April after having coffee at Fernandes’ home.
The third victim was a 65-year-old man, who was allegedly poisoned with a stew. Detectives believe Fernandes was hired by her classmate Michele Paiva da Silva to kill Neil Correia da Silva - her father - for £550 (4,000 Brazilian Real).
Paiva da Silva, a 43-year-old law student and bus driver, was arrested last week in Rio. The final victim was Fernandes’ Tunisian ex-boyfriend Ryder Maheris.
All four alleged murders are believed to have taken place between January and May 2025, in Guarulhos and Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil, as well as in Duque de Caxias in Rio de Janeiro state.
The Behavioural Analysis Unit of the Sao Paulo Homicide Division has reportedly classified Fernandes as a serial killer, saying her consistent pattern of behaviour, apparent pleasure in killing and emotional detachment match the traits of a repeat poisoner.
G1 describes the investigation as "one of the most complex cases of homicide by poisoning in the state". Her lawyers insist she was simply telling police what happened and deny she is guilty, saying the full story will emerge once the investigation is over.