Rio's city hall dismissed teacher Monique Medeiros da Costa e Silva, charged in the 2021 death of her son Henry Borel, two days after her prison release. The decision, signed by Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, was published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday (25). The Public Prosecutor's Office has appealed for her return to jail.
Rio de Janeiro's city hall published the dismissal of teacher Monique Medeiros da Costa e Silva from the municipal school network in the Official Gazette on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). Signed by Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere (PSD), the action came two days after Judge Elizabeth Machado Louro of the 2nd Jury Court ordered her release from pretrial detention. She now loses her public servant position and all ties to the municipal administration. Monique stands trial alongside former councilor Jairo Souza Santos Júnior, known as Jairinho, for the homicide of her 4-year-old son Henry Borel in 2021 at their Barra da Tijuca apartment. Prosecutors claim the boy died from repeated beatings. Both deny involvement. Her defense attorney, Hugo Novais, challenged the dismissal, stating they lacked access to the administrative act and citing the presumption of innocence absent a final criminal verdict. They argue the disciplinary process should be suspended pending the criminal case and plan an appeal. Education Secretary Renan Ferreirinha called her continued employment 'unsustainable.' 'Imagine if you have a child in the network and the possibility of having someone like her in the classroom,' he said. 'I requested this servant's dismissal and the mayor promptly approved.' Since Henry's death, Monique faced administrative probes while receiving pay despite partial incarceration. In December 2022, after her first release, she was reassigned to a warehouse. Rearrested in July 2023, she remained jailed until recently. The jury trial, started Monday (23), was postponed to May 25 after Jairinho's lawyers left. Prosecutors and private accusers appealed the release, warning of risks to the proceedings.
