In a disturbing turn of events akin to a scene straight out of “A Weekend at Bernie’s,” a Brazilian woman made headlines after attempting to enlist the help of a deceased man to secure a loan at a bank in Rio de Janeiro.
According to reports from the New York Post, the woman, identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes, was caught on camera beside the lifeless body of an elderly man seated in a chair, his head hanging limply. This bizarre incident unfolded as Nunes, addressing the deceased as her “uncle,” desperately implored him to sign financial documents necessary for her to secure a $3,400 loan.
“Uncle, are you listening? You need to sign [the loan contract], I can’t sign for you,” Nunes can be heard saying in the unsettling footage, as she places a pen between the man’s lifeless fingers, urging him to grip it firmly. “Sign so you don’t give me any more headaches, I can’t take it anymore,” she adds.
Despite the obvious distress of the situation, Nunes continued her futile attempt, even dismissing concerns from a bank worker who noted the man’s alarming appearance and pale complexion. Brushing off the worker’s apprehension, Nunes claimed the man “doesn’t say anything” and suggested he might need to return to the hospital, as reported by The Sun.
However, bank staff, unsettled by the macabre scene unfolding before them, quickly took action, recording the incident and alerting the authorities. This prompt response led to Nunes’ arrest. Subsequent investigation revealed that the man, identified as 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga, had been deceased for several hours before being callously taken to the bank.
Police Chief Fábio Luiz condemned Nunes’ actions, stating, “She tried to pretend to get him to sign the loan. He already entered the bank dead,” underscoring the need for a thorough investigation to uncover any potential accomplices or family members involved in the attempt to defraud the bank.
Law enforcement officials have vowed to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Braga’s death and Nunes’ relationship to him, with the possibility of charges including theft through fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of a corpse.
As the investigation unfolds, the chilling footage serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some may go to for financial gain, leaving the community shocked and appalled by this egregious act of deception and disrespect for the deceased.
