New details are emerging in the death of 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, who died during a bungee-style rope jump activity in Brazil. Investigators say she was launched from a bridge without the safety rope properly attached, turning what was meant to be an adventure into a fatal tragedy.
The incident happened in Limeira, São Paulo, at the Skeleton Bridge, a location known for extreme sports activities. Maria Eduarda had gone there to take part in a guided jump when the safety failure occurred.
Witnesses later realized that the rope meant to protect her had not been secured before she was released from the platform. She fell approximately 131 feet, and emergency responders were called to the scene.
Despite the quick response from rescue teams, Maria Eduarda was pronounced dead at the location. Her death has since sparked outrage across Brazil and raised serious questions about how the activity was organized.
Now, new information from local authorities is adding another disturbing layer to the investigation. According to reports, six people were initially taken into custody after the incident.
Three of those individuals were later released after police determined they had been helping with wristbands at the event. The remaining three were formally charged in connection with Maria Eduarda’s death.
The charged men were identified as Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, 32, Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves, 27, and Maicon Fernandes Cintra, 42. Authorities say they were directly connected to the jump itself.
Maria Eduarda’s fiancé was reportedly present at the site and witnessed the moment the activity went wrong. His presence has made the tragedy even more painful for the family, as he saw what should have been a controlled jump become a nightmare.
According to investigators, two of the instructors allegedly fled the scene after realizing the rope had not been attached. They were later found in a nearby wooded area after an aerial search involving a military helicopter.
That alleged attempt to escape has become one of the key details in the case. Authorities are now looking not only at the safety failure, but also at the actions of those involved immediately afterward.
Deputy police chief Andréa Dantas Levy said the suspects gave a strange explanation when questioned. They reportedly claimed they experienced a “blackout” and could not remember the exact moment when the safety mistake happened.
According to Levy, the men said they could not recall who was supposed to attach the rope, when it should have been secured, or how the final check was missed. A third man reportedly said he had only been called in to help hold Maria Eduarda’s legs before the launch.
A judge has ordered all three instructors to remain in custody. The court cited concerns that releasing them could pose further risks, especially given the seriousness of the allegations and the circumstances of the case.
If convicted, the suspects could face prison sentences ranging from six to 30 years. Investigators are continuing to examine whether the group followed safety rules, whether the activity was properly authorized, and who had final responsibility for checking the equipment.
Police are also searching for a missing 360-degree camera that Maria Eduarda was reportedly holding before the jump. The camera has not yet been recovered, and authorities believe it could contain important information about the moments before the fatal fall.
