Brazilian model, 25, found dead in car trunk: ex-boyfriend arrested

In a grim twist that has rattled the French coast, a 25‑year‑old Brazilian model was discovered lifeless in the trunk of a car belonging to her 29‑year‑old ex‑boyfriend on the A8 motorway near Brignoles. The vehicle was stopped for a routine customs check, and the body, wrapped in plastic and bags, was found hidden and mutilated. The ex‑partner, an Algerian national, was taken into custody on murder charges the same day.

According to the first available information reported by local press, primarily Nice Matin and Brazilian media, the body of the model—identified as Larissa Brito—was found last Monday during a customs check in a service area on the A8 motorway in Var. The victim’s remains were concealed beneath plastic sheets and clothes, then placed in several bags, and had been “horribly mutilated,” the report added.

The ex‑partner, a 29‑year‑old Algerian, was driving the car at the time. He was already known to law enforcement for previous offences, including drug dealing, and was arrested on charges of murder immediately after the discovery. Investigators are now working to determine the cause of death and the exact dynamics of what transpired, the authorities said. The apartment on rue Lenval where the model had been living was seized, and the door was sealed by the national police as part of the homicide investigation.

Larissa Brito had been reported missing shortly before her body was found. An alarm had been raised by an acquaintance, and subsequent analyses allowed her identification. Her mother, who writes from Brazil, sent a letter to the ex‑partner on September 21st asking, “What happened to my daughter?”

Readers may find it useful to track the sequence of events in a concise timeline:

• Prior to September 21st – Alarm raised for missing model.
• September 21st – Mother’s letter arrives.
• Last Monday – Customs check on the A8 motorway; body found.
• Same day – Ex‑partner arrested on murder charges.
• Post‑arrest – Apartment seized; investigation underway.

While the circumstances of the body’s placement and the nature of the mutilation raise immediate questions, authorities have refrained from speculating on the cause of death. The focus remains on gathering forensic evidence and reconstructing the events leading up to the discovery. The seizure of the apartment and sealing of its entrance aim to preserve the crime scene and prevent contamination.

The national police’s swift action in sealing the apartment demonstrates the seriousness with which the case is being pursued.