Woman, Who Took Her 'Dead' Uncle To Bank, Says ‘I Am Not A Monster’

Weeks after a woman from Brazil stirred a serious controversy after allegedly taking her dead uncle to a bank for a loan, Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes finally broke her silence to tell her side of the story. But first, here’s a quick recap— In April this year, a disturbing incident occurred at a bank in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro when Nunes was captured wheeling her uncle, Paulo Roberto Braga, into the bank and trying to get him to sign the loan document. However, the man’s unusual appearance left the bank employees suspicious, prompting them to immediately alert the police and the paramedics, who confirmed that the 68-year-old was dead.

This landed Erika in major trouble, as she was charged with abusing a corpse and attempting theft through fraud. She was also sent to 16 days on remand in prison before being released later, pending an ongoing investigation. Days after she left prison, the accused, in her first interview, claimed that she didn’t know that her uncle was dead.

Woman accused of abusing dead uncle for loans breaks silence

Speaking on the Brazilian TV program Fantastico, Erica broke down in tears and said, “The days away from my family have been horrible, very difficult. I didn’t realise my uncle was dead. It’s absurd what people are saying. I’m not that person people are talking about; I’m not that monster.”

She further explained that it was only after an ambulance worker confirmed her uncle’s death that she discovered the truth. Recalling the “hazy” memories of the day, she admitted having taken certain sleeping pills in excess, further stating that her uncle supposedly asked her to hold his head up as they entered the bank, right after his treatment for pneumonia.

Erika also shared that her uncle wanted the loan to renovate his home. “I didn’t need the money, but he wanted it. We always lived without my uncle having any income. My family always helped him. He only did odd jobs here and there but didn’t have any fixed income,” she said, as quoted by a Mirror report.

In the meantime, while public prosecutors have claimed that she “pretended” to try to wake the man, already knowing he was dead, a judge released Erica due to her “weakened” state of mental health and to take care of her special needs daughter. The timeline for her trial is now yet to be determined.