Brazil mourns death of Venezuelan circus artist brutally killed in Amazonas

The Brazilian government mourned the brutal murder of Julieta Hernández, a 38-year-old Venezuelan circus performer and bicycle tourist. She was sexually assaulted and killed in the city of Presidente Figueiredo, a popular tourist destination in the state of Amazonas. 

Ms. Hernández went missing on December 23 after resting at a shelter in a forested area of the city. According to authorities, she was raped and robbed by a local man, whose wife then tried to burn the victim and rapist alive in an act of rage.

Her body was found on January 6, buried in a shallow grave, shortly before a witness reported seeing parts of the victim’s bicycle discarded near the crime scene. Police arrested the couple, who confessed to the crime. They face charges of aggravated homicide and concealment of a corpse. 

On Monday, Brazil’s National Arts Foundation (Funarte) mourned the death in an official statement, saying through its president, Maria Marighella, that Ms. Hernández “will always be remembered” for her artistic role and her “concern for gender inequality, her inspiring quest for justice.” The foundation recalled that Ms. Hernández had lived in Brazil since 2015 and participated in several artistic and cycling collectives. 

Left-wing lawmaker Guilherme Boulos, who will run for mayor of São Paulo in 2024, tweeted a picture of Ms. Hernández and said the artist “brought nothing but joy wherever she went on her bike and was yet another victim of femicide in our country.” Various Brazilian artists and activists also used their social media channels to demand justice and respect for women.

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