South American soap star Jefferson Machado was confirmed dead by Brazil authorities after he went missing in January.
Machado’s body was buried in concrete, in the backyard of a home in Campo Grande, Brazil, on Monday. The news of the 44-year-old’s passing was reported by Rio de Janeiro news outlet R7 earlier this week.
“It is with regret that I share the sad news of the passing of actor Jeff Machado, whose body was found with strangulation signs,” Machado family lawyer, Jairo Magalhães, said in a Facebook post. “This discovery confronts us with the cruelty present in our society, motivating us to seek truth and justice in the face of such impactful cases.”
“Preliminary information indicates that the actor’s body was found in a trunk, buried in a hole of considerable depth. This situation deeply saddens us and indignant in the face of the suffering faced by Jeff,” he added.
He went on to say it is his “commitment as a lawyer is to seek tirelessly for truth and justice” and his “responsibility to ensure that everyone involved in this brutal crime is held accountable and punished, and that Jeff’s family finds the support they need to get through this very painful time.”
The home where Machado’s body was found was being rented by a friend, who is now being investigated by authorities.
Machado — who starred in the Brazilian telenovela “Reis,” — was reported missing on January 27. The outlet said his family and friends reported him missing after learning he left his eight dogs alone, which was out of his character because he loves animals.
