Santa Catarina's Civil Police concluded the inquiry into community dog Orelha's death on Tuesday (February 3), with clothing items serving as key evidence to identify the responsible adolescent. The suspect was intercepted at the airport upon returning from an international trip, and the investigation reviewed over a thousand hours of security camera footage.
The attempt to hide a pink hat and a sweatshirt was crucial for Santa Catarina's Civil Police (PCSC) to identify the perpetrator in the death of community dog Orelha in Florianópolis. The inquiry was concluded on Tuesday (February 3), following a task force involving the Specialized Delegation for Adolescents in Conflict with the Law (Deacle) and the Animal Protection Delegation (DPA).
The attack took place in the early morning of January 4, around 5:30 a.m., at Praia Brava in the North of the Island. Forensic reports from the Scientific Police indicated that Orelha suffered a blunt force trauma to the head. Rescued by residents the next day, the animal died in a veterinary clinic due to its injuries.
Footage from 14 security cameras, totaling over a thousand hours analyzed, captured the hat and sweatshirt worn by the adolescent. He left the condominium where he was staying at 5:25 a.m. and returned at 5:58 a.m., accompanied by a friend. In his statement, the youth initially denied leaving, but the recordings proved otherwise.
Upon being approached at the airport, a family member tried to conceal the clothing items. The adolescent admitted to owning the sweatshirt before the trip, contradicting the family member's initial claim. Police used French-origin software to analyze location data and prevented leaks during the month the suspect remained abroad, a period when he could have discarded evidence, such as his cell phone.
Twenty-four witnesses were interviewed, and eight adolescents were investigated. With the conclusion, the PCSC requested the internment of the perpetrator, a measure equivalent to adult imprisonment. Three adults were indicted for witness coercion. The cases proceed under secrecy of justice due to involving minors and have been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Judiciary.