Human Barbie reason for dying probed as household worry her dying was homicide – not cocaine
Brazilian influencer known as the Human Barbie is continuing to capture attention after her tragic death, which police blame on cocaine but her family fear was murder
The mystery death of an influencer who had nearly 30 plastic surgery ops to turn herself into a human Barbie is set to be investigated as a possible homicide following a campaign by her family.
Police are expected to rule that Barbara Jankavski, 31, died from a heart attack after consuming cocaine in a report they are set to conclude later this week.
But the case of the woman who called herself Boneca Desumana – or Inhuman Doll – took a sensational twist as a new court specialising in intentional crimes against human life including homicide and infanticide prepared to take over the ongoing probe.
It also emerged Barbara’s body may be exhumed so a new autopsy can take place.
The brunette, who was also dubbed the Human Barbie by many of her 57,000 fans on Instagram because of the fortune she spent trying to emulate the miniature fashion icon, was found dead on November 2 at the home of a lawyer in Sao Paulo.
The Vara do Juri, the specialist court set to take over the case, could order a new police investigation if it disagrees with the conclusion she suffered an accidental death.
Brazilian media are reporting public prosecutors and lawyers acting for Barbara’s family, who requested the intervention of the new court which would lead to a jury trial if charges end up being laid, suspect the influencer could have been killed.
They are reportedly alleging there were signs of violence on her body including injuries to her neck, legs and an eye which were initially linked to a fall she was said to have suffered before she died.
The 51-year-old lawyer whose home Barbara died in, named locally as Renato de Vitto, told police he had spent the day with her after hiring her for sex.
He admitted they had both used drugs before she fell asleep beside him wearing just her underwear as they watched TV. He said he had tried to revive her for nine minutes before calling an ambulance.
Another two people in the property during the day have also been questioned by police. One was a female friend of the homeowner’s who told police the dead woman hurt herself in an early-hours fall.
Brazilian news portal G1 reported overnight Barbara’s parents are considering asking the courts to authorise the exhumation of Barbara’s body so a new post-mortem can take place to determine whether she was “punched or strangled” before her death.
It said they had alleged the three people who had been in the house where she was discovered dead had not been tested by forensic experts.
And genetic material had not been collected from underneath the influencer’s fingernails to see if there were traces of another person’s skin.
Her mobile phones and those of the other three people in the house that day were also never analysed, according to local reports.
Barbara had already undergone 27 plastic surgery ops despite being just 31. She had spent an estimated £42,000 on trying to change her look. She had taken part in TV programmes and ad campaigns after making a name for herself on social media.
The photos Barbara posted on her Instagram include one where she shows off the way she looked before she started transforming her face and body.
She also appeared in promotional photos alongside fellow Brazilian Mauricio Galdio, who first made international headlines in 2015 as he earned popularity with his attempts to turn himself into a Human Ken Doll.
At the time he had undergone a total of eight procedures, going on to have two ribs removed aged just 29 despite being told by plastic surgeons the procedure would be too dangerous.
During the Covid crisis, Barbara published a video online saying she had five procedures during the outbreak including one where silicone was injected into her bottom.
She also confessed at the time to having neck liposuction, an eyebrow lift and rhinoplasty to change the shape and size of her nose. Barbara published a selfie photo of herself in August in a racy leather outfit which left little to the imagination.
Weeks earlier she had shocked fans with a selfie video where she had blackened and bloodshot eyes after one of her ops. She joked: “Scarring almost invisible.”
One fan responded by saying: “Heal well, beautiful girl. You’re going to be more of a Diva Princess than ever. Tell your boyfriend to look after you a lot, that’s what we all want.”
Instagram follower Naty Silveira wrote online after learning about Barbara’s death: “I can’t believe it. I loved you so much. Rest in peace.”
Another wrote: “I hope God receives you with open arms. I can’t believe you’ve gone. You lived a little bit of the life you loved and that comforts us a bit.”
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