The autopsy of Larissa Brito, the 25-year-old Brazilian model found dead in her ex-boyfriend’s car on a French motorway, is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026, according to the Brazilian Embassy in France. The forensic examination is expected to establish her precise cause of death and provide investigators with critical evidence as they build a murder case against the man who was driving the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Brito’s family in Brazil has launched an online fundraiser to cover the cost of bringing her body home. The campaign, hosted on Brazilian crowdfunding platform Vakinha, estimates that repatriation will cost between 6,000 euros (approximately $6,800) and 10,000 euros (approximately $11,400) to cover funeral services, consular paperwork, required procedures, and international transport.
Brito’s body was discovered on September 21, 2026, during a routine customs check at the Cambarette North rest area near Brignoles, in southeastern France, on the A8 motorway between Nice and Aix-en-Provence. She was concealed beneath plastic bags on the back seat of the vehicle. The driver, identified only by his first name, Mathieu, a 29-year-old French national, was arrested at the scene.
Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli confirmed that the case is being investigated as the suspected “murder of a former partner.”
How Customs Officers Discovered Larissa Brito’s Body
The circumstances of how Brito’s body was found are both extraordinary and chilling. Her death might have gone undiscovered far longer had it not been for a routine inspection that had nothing to do with a missing persons case.
Model Larissa Brito, 25, Found Dead Inside Ex-Partner’s Car During Routine Customs Check: Reports https://t.co/WCu40vbAOK
— People (@people) September 23, 2026
On the afternoon of Monday, September 21, customs officers conducting a standard vehicle check at the Cambarette North rest area on the A8 motorway stopped a car near Brignoles. The rest area sits along the route from Nice heading west toward Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.
When officers inspected the vehicle, they found Brito’s body on the back seat, concealed beneath plastic bags. According to Nice-Matin, the regional newspaper that first reported the discovery, the body showed several traumatic injuries, including stab wounds.
The driver, 29-year-old Mathieu, was detained immediately at the scene. He was reportedly unable to explain why a body was in his vehicle. Investigators believe he was traveling away from Nice, potentially heading toward Savoie, the alpine region where he is originally from.
At roughly the same time that customs officers were making the discovery, police in Nice received a separate report from a man who described himself as Brito’s friend. He told authorities that he had gone to her apartment early Monday afternoon and encountered Mathieu leaving the building carrying belongings. The friend also noted that the apartment appeared to have been “recently cleaned.”
The near-simultaneous discovery and missing person report connected the two events. What began as a customs inspection became a murder investigation within hours.
Larissa Brito’s Final Text Message to Her Mother
The last known communication from Brito came in a text message to her mother, Liliane Brito Nogueira, on Sunday, September 20, the day before her body was found.
The message was brief and alarming: “Mathieu is here.”
According to Brazilian outlet g1, Brito and her mother communicated daily through messages. The two were close, maintaining regular contact despite the distance between Nice and Sao Paulo. When Brito stopped responding after the text about Mathieu’s presence, Liliane grew concerned.
Liliane called Mathieu directly. He told her that Larissa was sleeping. When Liliane said she would call the police, Mathieu blocked her number.
It is not known precisely when Brito was killed. Investigators are working to establish a timeline between her final text message on Sunday and the discovery of her body on Monday afternoon. The autopsy scheduled for September 28 is expected to help narrow this window.
Who Is the Suspect and What Is His Criminal Background
The suspect has been identified only by his first name, Mathieu, in accordance with French media practices that restrict the publication of suspects’ full names in active criminal investigations. He is a 29-year-old French national from the Savoie region.
According to reports from Nice-Matin and corroborated by Brazilian media, Brito dated Mathieu for approximately five months before ending the relationship. The reason she broke up with him, according to her family, was that she learned he was allegedly involved with organized crime in the local area. He reportedly had prior criminal convictions, including for drug-related offenses and numerous traffic violations.
After the breakup, Brito’s family says Mathieu began stalking her. Brito relocated to Nice in an attempt to distance herself from him. Her family told media that she had tried “in every way” to get away from the man.
Despite her efforts to create distance, Mathieu showed up at her apartment in Nice on September 20, prompting the final text to her mother.
Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli confirmed that the investigation is being treated as the suspected murder of a former partner. Mathieu’s initial detention was extended on Tuesday, September 23, as investigators continued building the case.
What Is Known About the Suspect:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Mathieu (surname withheld per French media law) |
| Age | 29 |
| Nationality | French |
| Region of Origin | Savoie, France |
| Relationship to Brito | Former boyfriend (approximately 5 months) |
| Alleged Criminal Background | Prior convictions for drug offenses and traffic violations; alleged involvement in organized crime |
| Current Status | In custody; detention extended on September 23 |
What the Autopsy on September 28 Will Determine
The post-mortem examination, confirmed by the Brazilian Embassy in France, is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026. Several questions remain unanswered heading into the forensic examination.
Key questions the autopsy will address:
- Cause of death: While stab wounds were visible on Brito’s body, the autopsy will establish whether the knife injuries were the direct cause of death or whether other factors contributed.
- Time of death: Investigators do not yet know precisely when Brito was killed. Her last text message was sent on Sunday, September 20. Her body was found on Monday, September 21. Establishing the time of death is critical for building a timeline of the suspect’s actions.
- Nature and number of injuries: Nice-Matin reported “several traumatic injuries and stab wounds.” The autopsy will document the full extent of the injuries and may help determine the type of weapon used.
- Evidence of defensive injuries: The presence or absence of defensive wounds on Brito’s hands or arms can indicate whether she was able to fight back or was incapacitated.
- Toxicology: Standard forensic practice includes testing for the presence of drugs, alcohol, or sedatives, which could indicate whether Brito was conscious at the time of the attack.
Until the autopsy is completed, the official cause and manner of death remain formally undetermined.
Also Read: Jonathan Taylor Thomas Arrest and Life After Home Improvement
The Family’s Fundraiser to Bring Larissa Home
Brito’s family has turned to the Brazilian crowdfunding platform Vakinha to raise money for the repatriation of her body. The process of returning a deceased person’s remains from France to Brazil involves multiple layers of bureaucratic, logistical, and financial complexity.
Estimated repatriation costs:
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Funeral services (France) | Included in range |
| Consular paperwork and documentation | Included in range |
| Embalming and preparation of remains | Included in range |
| International transport (cargo flight) | Included in range |
| Total Estimated Range | 6,000 to 10,000 euros ($6,800 to $11,400) |
Brito’s mother, Liliane, expressed the urgency of the effort in raw terms: “I need to see my daughter.”
International repatriation of remains typically requires coordination between the host country’s authorities (who must release the body after the forensic examination is complete), the deceased’s national consulate or embassy (which handles documentation and legal requirements), a licensed funeral services provider in the host country (which prepares the remains for transport), and a transport company or airline (which handles the physical shipment in a sealed container).
The Brazilian Embassy in France is involved in the process. However, consular services in cases like this are limited to administrative support. The financial burden of repatriation falls on the family, which is why the Vakinha campaign was created.
Who Was Larissa Brito? Her Life Before France
Larissa Brito dos Santos was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Before moving to France, she worked at nightclubs in the Sao Paulo area. According to her family’s account shared with g1, she received an offer to work abroad as a model and made the decision to relocate to France approximately three years before her death.
Her family described her as someone who was building a new life in a new country, navigating the challenges of living far from home while pursuing professional opportunities in the modeling industry.
Brito’s current boyfriend at the time of her death, whose name has not been made public, was reportedly left “in shock” by the news of her killing. He has been assisting French police with their investigation, according to Need To Know, which cited statements from Brito’s mother.
The fact that Brito had moved on to a new relationship after ending things with Mathieu adds another dimension to the alleged stalking behavior described by her family. By their account, Mathieu did not accept the end of the relationship and continued to pursue and harass Brito even after she moved cities and began dating someone new.
Evidence Investigators Are Examining Beyond the Autopsy
While the autopsy will provide essential forensic evidence, French investigators are also building the case through several other evidentiary channels.
The apartment: Brito’s friend reported that her flat in Nice appeared to have been “recently cleaned” when he arrived on Monday. Liliane told Brazilian media that she believes Mathieu deliberately cleaned the apartment to remove fingerprints and other evidence. This allegation has not been confirmed by investigators, but the condition of the apartment is a focus of the forensic examination of the scene.
CCTV footage: Unreleased surveillance video reportedly shows Mathieu leaving Brito’s apartment building carrying several bags. The timing and contents of these bags may help establish the sequence of events between the killing and the transport of the body.
The vehicle: The car in which Brito’s body was found is itself a piece of evidence. Forensic analysis of the interior, including blood evidence, trace materials, and the plastic bags used to conceal the body, will be part of the investigation.
The suspect’s movements: Investigators believe the events leading to Brito’s death occurred in Nice before Mathieu left the city. He was stopped on the A8 motorway heading west, potentially toward Savoie. Tracking his movements between Nice and Brignoles through toll records, CCTV, and phone data may help establish when he left and whether he made any stops along the way.
A Timeline of the Larissa Brito Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ~2023 | Brito moves from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to France to pursue modeling work |
| Early-mid 2026 | Brito dates Mathieu for approximately five months |
| Mid 2026 | Brito ends the relationship after learning Mathieu is allegedly involved in organized crime |
| Post-breakup | Brito relocates to Nice; Mathieu allegedly begins stalking her |
| Sunday, September 20, 2026 | Brito sends final text to her mother: “Mathieu is here”; stops responding; Liliane calls Mathieu, who says Larissa is sleeping; Mathieu blocks Liliane’s number when she threatens to call police |
| Monday, September 21, 2026 (afternoon) | Customs officers stop Mathieu’s car at Cambarette North rest area near Brignoles on the A8 motorway; Brito’s body found concealed beneath plastic bags on the back seat |
| Monday, September 21, 2026 (same afternoon) | A friend of Brito visits her apartment in Nice; encounters Mathieu leaving with belongings; reports her missing to Nice police |
| Monday, September 21, 2026 | Mathieu arrested at the scene; investigation opened as suspected “murder of a former partner” |
| Tuesday, September 23, 2026 | Mathieu’s detention extended; case transferred to Nice prosecutor’s office |
| Monday, September 28, 2026 | Autopsy scheduled at direction of Brazilian Embassy in France |
| Ongoing | Family fundraiser on Vakinha to cover repatriation costs of 6,000 to 10,000 euros |
How French Law Handles Suspected Domestic Murder Cases
In France, the killing of a current or former intimate partner is treated with particular severity under the criminal code. French law recognizes femicide as an aggravating circumstance in murder cases, meaning that the fact that the victim was a former partner of the accused can result in a harsher sentence.
Under Article 221-4 of the French Penal Code, murder of a current or former spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, compared to the standard maximum of 30 years for murder without aggravating circumstances.
The investigation is being handled by the Nice prosecutor’s office, with the judicial police of Nice conducting the active investigation. The case was initially opened by the Draguignan prosecutor’s office and the Brignoles investigative unit, given that the body was discovered in their jurisdiction. It was subsequently transferred to Nice, where investigators believe the killing took place.
Mathieu’s prior convictions for drug offenses and traffic violations, while not directly related to the murder allegation, may factor into how prosecutors assess his character and flight risk during pre-trial proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was Larissa Brito’s body found?
Brito’s body was discovered on September 21, 2026, during a routine customs check at the Cambarette North rest area near Brignoles, France, on the A8 motorway. Customs officers found her concealed beneath plastic bags on the back seat of a vehicle being driven by her 29-year-old ex-boyfriend, identified only as Mathieu.
When is Larissa Brito’s autopsy?
The autopsy is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026, according to the Brazilian Embassy in France. The examination will establish her precise cause of death, time of death, and the full extent of her injuries.
Who killed Larissa Brito?
Larissa Brito’s ex-boyfriend, a 29-year-old French national known only as Mathieu, was arrested at the scene when her body was found in his vehicle. He is being held in custody and the case is being investigated as the suspected murder of a former partner. He has not yet been formally charged.
How is the family bringing her body back to Brazil?
Brito’s family has launched a fundraiser on the Brazilian crowdfunding platform Vakinha. They estimate that repatriation will cost between 6,000 euros ($6,800) and 10,000 euros ($11,400) to cover funeral services, consular paperwork, and an international cargo flight back to Brazil.
What was Larissa Brito’s last message?
Brito’s last known text message was sent to her mother, Liliane Brito Nogueira, on Sunday, September 20, 2026. It read: “Mathieu is here.” She stopped responding after that message. When her mother called Mathieu, he claimed Larissa was sleeping and later blocked Liliane’s number when she threatened to contact police.
Why did Larissa Brito break up with Mathieu?
According to Brito’s family, she ended the approximately five-month relationship after learning that Mathieu was allegedly involved in organized crime in the local area. He reportedly had prior convictions for drug-related offenses. After the breakup, her family says he began stalking her, which led Brito to relocate to Nice.
Also Read: Tim Janus and the Foreign Service Plans Cut Short by Cancer
Last Updated on September 24, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
