Court Orders Homicide Probe Into Death of 'Human Barbie' Influencer Barbara Jankavski

A São Paulo court has ordered that the investigation into the November death of Brazilian influencer Barbara Jankavski be transferred to the Homicide and Personal Protection Department, the Civil Police unit responsible for homicide inquiries.

Key Developments

Jankavski, 31, widely known online as “Human Barbie” for her extensive cosmetic surgeries, was found dead on Nov. 2 inside the home of public defender Renato Campos Pinto de Vitto, 51. The court’s Dec. 5 order follows requests from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Jankavski’s family asking for a homicide review after an earlier forensic report attributed her death to accidental cocaine consumption.

Police Findings and Testimony

Initial forensic analysis by the Technical-Scientific Police and an investigation by the São Paulo Civil Police concluded the cause of death was accidental cocaine use. However, the prosecutor’s office and the family have argued the evidence warrants further scrutiny and possible reclassification.

According to reporting from local outlets, de Vitto told investigators he had hired Jankavski for "sexual services" the night she died. He said they used illicit substances together, and that after she fell asleep he noticed she was no longer breathing. He reportedly attempted resuscitation for about nine minutes before emergency responders arrived and pronounced her dead.

Physical Evidence

Officers from the São Paulo State Military Police reported finding Jankavski wearing only underwear, with an injury to her left eye and marks on her back. A friend later suggested to police that the facial injury might have resulted from a prior slip and fall. Authorities initially described the circumstances of her death as suspicious, prompting the family's request for a homicide-level investigation.

Online Profile

Jankavski used social media to document numerous cosmetic procedures and had an audience of roughly 55,000 followers on Instagram and about 344,000 on TikTok. Her most recent public social post was an Oct. 1 Instagram video shared with fellow influencers.

Next Steps: The Homicide and Personal Protection Department will review the case files, forensic reports and witness statements to determine whether the circumstances surrounding Jankavski’s death indicate criminal responsibility.