Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos, a 25-year-old Brazilian Army corporal, died carbonized in a fire in the music band facilities of the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment in Brasília on Friday (December 5). Firefighters quickly controlled the blaze, but causes remain under investigation, including a possible femicide hypothesis. The family is receiving support from the Planalto Military Command.
The fire broke out in the Setor Militar Urbano in Brasília and was attended by the Military Fire Department of the Federal District (CBMDF) at 4:06 PM on Friday (December 5). Upon arrival, teams found a building ablaze with heavy smoke and combustible materials. Hose lines were immediately set up to fight the flames, and neighboring structures were cooled to prevent spread. The fire was quickly controlled, but during cooling, rescuers located the carbonized body of Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos, a 25-year-old corporal who served as a musician in the regiment's fanfare.
Maria had joined the Army in June this year and resided in Altiplano Leste. In a statement, the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment (RCG) expressed sorrow: “The 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment expresses deep sorrow for the death of Corporal Maria de Lourdes Freire Matos, whose trajectory in the institution was marked by dedication, professionalism, and exemplary commitment to service in the fanfare”.
The Planalto Military Command stated that the body was found after the fire in the music band facilities. “The Military Fire Department of the Federal District was called immediately and, together with 1st RCG military personnel, controlled the fire. The soldier's family is receiving all necessary support from the Planalto Military Command in this time of grief”, the note said.
Forensic teams from the CBMDF and the Federal District Civil Police (PCDF) were called to the scene. The causes of the fire remain unknown, and one line of inquiry considers the possibility of femicide, with a suspect identified and being sought by police. An investigation has been launched, involving the Army Police Battalion in Brasília, the PCDF, and the CBMDF, to determine the circumstances of the incident.
