Horror as mum and dad of girl, 4, die in scalding hot hotel bathtub

Jeferson Luiz Sagaz and his partner Ana Carolina Silva died in August (Image: Jam Press)

Two parents died in a scalding hot bathtub after a night out following a day of celebrations for their daughter’s fourth birthday. Jeferson Luiz Sagaz, 37, and his partner Ana Carolina Silva, 41, were found dead in a motel room in Brazil.

They had spent the day celebrating their daughter’s birthday at a food park and drinking before heading to a nightclub. The couple left their daughter with Jeferson’s sister and checked into the Dallas Motel in São José, Santa Catarina state, shortly after midnight on August 11. After Jeferson and Ana Carolina never turned up to collect their daughter, concerned relatives reported them missing. Police later found the couple lifeless in the motel bathroom. 

Ana Carolina Silva was a nail salon owner (Image: Jam Press)

Crime scene investigators concluded that Jeferson — a military police officer — and Ana Carolina — a nail salon owner — had passed out in a bathtub filled with 50C water while a space heater was on.

According to local news outlet Globo G1, a toxicology report found very high alcohol levels and traces of cocaine. 

A total of 16 forensic tests carried out by the Civil Police ruled out possible causes of death including electric shock, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning or foul play.

As part of the investigation, officers had examined the motel room, the couple’s car and studied CCTV images.

Brazil's Chief Medical Examiner Andressa Boer Fronza said: "The cause of both deaths was exogenous poisoning, favouring the process of heatstroke with intense dehydration, thermal collapse, culminating in organ failure and death."

Jefferson Luiz Sagaz died aged 37 (Image: Jam Press)

Chief of Police Felipe Simão Gomes said: "These circumstances, combined with the substances found on the bodies, led the Civil Police to conclude that the cause of death was sudden and not due to third-party intervention."

Jefferson and Ana Carolina had been together for almost 20 years and were described by friends as devoted parents and sociable. There was no history of violence, police said.

The family of Ana Carolina rejected claims she was a habitual drug user, raising concerns she could have been forced to ingest cocaine.

“It may be that the physical constitution, both his and hers, were not compatible with the use of a substance like that, especially when combined with alcohol,” said Chief Simão.