The prosecutor of Estarreja, in charge of the prosecution of Fernando Valente, suspected of the murder of Monica Silva, 33 years old, seven months pregnant, from Murtosa, who disappeared on Tuesday exactly eleven months ago, was placed in the Western District of Lisbon following the usual movement of the prosecutor’s judges.
The public prosecution of the 39-year-old businessman from Murtosa, who carried out the measure of coercion in the form of house arrest – at a time when there are about two months left before his deduction – will be taken over by another prosecutor, who will in the meantime take over the process.
Fernando Valente is suspected of aggravated murder, concealment and desecration of a corpse, and aggravated abortion. The businessman, arrested on November 15 last year, is the main suspect in the disappearance of Monica Silva on the night of October 3.
According to investigators, the woman was killed that same night. The body was never found. At that time, Monica had two children, aged 11 and 14.