Staheli Murder Update: DNA Does Not Match Suspect

UNCLAS RIO DE JANEIRO 001162

SIPDIS

CA/OCS/ACS/WHA KDAVISION,
MMUELLER, MDERKS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: CMGT AMGT EAIR BR
SUBJECT: Staheli Murder Update: DNA Does Not Match Suspect

Ref: 03 Rio de Janeiro 335


1. Summary: A new twist in the police investigation into the
2003 murders of Amcit couple Todd and Michelle Staheli:
Authorities determined on Oct 28 that DNA samples beneath
Michelle Staheli's fingernails do not match that of suspect
Jossiel Conceicao des Santos. This new evidence lends credence
to the view that others were involved in the murder. End
summary.


2. Shell expatriate executive Staheli and his wife were
murdered in their Rio de Janeiro home on November 30, 2003.
The juxtaposition of the Stahelis - Utah Mormons, parents of
four - meeting their tragic end in crime-saturated Rio de
Janeiro caused a brief international media splash in late 2003.


3. Authorities - notably State Security Secretary and
presidential wannabe Anthony Garotinho - declared four months
later that handyman dos Santos had confessed as the Stahelis'
lone assassin (ref). The crime's intricacy, dos Santos'
implausible motive (he claimed Michelle Staheli slurred him
with a Portuguese racial epitaph she could not have known) and
other factors have cast doubt on the State authorities' murder
scenario. (We suggest interested cable recipients new to
Brazil google "Staheli" and "Rio" for further background
information.)


4. Amconsul Rio de Janeiro will continue to press authorities
to put renewed energy into hunting down the Staheli's
murderer(s). This is no small challenge. The media spotlight
has long ago dissipated and Brazilian authorities resolve a
mere three percent of the country's murders. We will also lend
whatever support we can to Staheli family attorneys from Utah,
who are also conducting a parallel investigation (but, of
course, without the power of subpoena).

Atkins