Felipe Catanio de Araujo, 32, was buried on Tuesday (29) following a fatal stabbing on Sunday (27) in Guarapari, in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória. His mother, bank employee Alessandra Braga Catanio, 48, has spoken out about what she describes as a history of abuse in her son's relationship and says she will seek justice.

“It was a cold and cruel murder,” Alessandra told *g1* on Wednesday (30), rejecting the self-defense claim made by the lawyer representing the alleged attacker—Felipe's mother-in-law. She believes both the mother and daughter acted with intent to kill.

The incident occurred in the Muquiçaba neighborhood and was captured by local security cameras. Footage shows an argument involving Felipe, his fiancée (who was holding their eight-month-old son), and his mother-in-law. During the altercation, Felipe was stabbed in the chest. He was rescued but succumbed to his injuries.

The 57-year-old mother-in-law fled the scene but later turned herself in and was released after giving a statement. According to the police chief, there was not enough evidence at the time to make an arrest.

### Timeline and Background

On the day of the incident, Felipe was working when he stopped in front of his fiancée’s apartment building after reportedly being insulted by his mother-in-law. According to Alessandra, her son had called the Military Police about an hour before the stabbing to report a disagreement—a fact confirmed by the State Secretariat for Public Security (Sesp). When officers arrived, all parties involved were advised to go to a police station and file a report. However, the two women declined to give their version of events on the scene.

Felipe’s mother also claims he had been frequently harassed via messages, including threats that he would be denied access to his son. “His fiancée would insult him and threaten to take his son away—his reason for living. It left him in a panic. It was an abusive relationship, and she knew it affected his mental health,” Alessandra said.

She added that although Felipe had not yet legally registered the baby as his own, he was deeply involved in the child's life—working two jobs to provide for him. “He loved that child deeply, was very affectionate, and gave him everything he could,” she said.

According to Alessandra, Felipe had lost his ID after his fiancée tore up his documents during an argument. He had obtained a copy of the birth certificate and was planning to get a new ID to officially register the child.