A dentist was found in a pool of blood after his killer ripped off his finger so he could access his bank account.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of killing a dentist who invited him round for dinner before allegedly hacking off his finger to access his bank funds.
The shocking incident took place at the victim’s home in the rural municipality of Fraiburgo in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.
The suspect, name not disclosed, was arrested by the police in the municipality of Ibirama, Santa Catarina, on 16 September.
According to the Fraiburgo Military Police, the 25-year-old victim, named as dentist Rafael Caranhato, had invited the suspect to his home for dinner on the evening of 15 September.
He then allegedly killed the dentist, stole his personal belongings such as his phone and video games, and cut off one his fingers so he could make bank withdrawals in his name, according to reports.
Police spokesperson Marcos Tarniovicz told local media that the suspect spent the rest of the night in Caranhato's car because he probably couldn’t find the control to open the garage door.
He waited until a neighbour opened the door the following morning and fled the scene in the vehicle.
A colleague at the victim’s dental clinic was surprised when he failed to show up for work as he had a number of appointments scheduled and had never been late before.
The unnamed woman called the police and officers enter the victim’s apartment with the help of a locksmith.
They then came across the macabre sight of the mutilated victim lying in a pool of blood in his home.
The spokesperson added: “What caught our attention was the brutality of the crime scene. When he cut off the victim’s finger, blood sprayed all over the walls.”
The police said they managed to arrest the suspect by tracking the victim’s car.
Officers also recovered the victim’s belongings as well as BRL 6,000 (£1,015) of the BRL 7,000 (£1,183) he reportedly withdrew from the victim’s bank account.
The investigation continues.
