Prosecutors have asked to exhume Brazilian influencer Barbara Jankavski—known as “Human Barbie”—to investigate whether her Nov. 2 death was caused by asphyxiation. Authorities initially ruled her death accidental from cocaine use on Dec. 2, but the case was transferred to São Paulo’s homicide unit after prosecutors raised concerns about marks on her body. Additional neck X-rays and DNA testing under her fingernails have been requested, though exhumation has not yet been authorized.
Prosecutors Seek Exhumation of ‘Human Barbie’ Influencer to Probe Possible Strangulation
Barbara Jankavski/InstagramBarbara Jankavski
Barbara Jankavski, the Brazilian influencer known as “Human Barbie,” may be exhumed so investigators can determine whether her Nov. 2 death was the result of homicide by asphyxiation, prosecutors say.
Jankavski, 31, was found unresponsive at the São Paulo home of public defender Renato Campos Pinto de Vitto on Nov. 2. De Vitto told police he had hired Jankavski for “sexual services” and said they used drugs together that evening; he said he tried to resuscitate her for nine minutes before emergency responders arrived and declared her dead.
Barbara Jankavski/InstagramBarbara Jankavski
Initial Ruling and New Developments
On Dec. 2, authorities concluded—after a police inquiry and forensic analysis—that Jankavski’s death was accidental and caused by cocaine use. That finding has since been challenged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and by Jankavski’s representatives.
On Dec. 5, the São Paulo Court of Justice ordered the case transferred to the Homicide and Personal Protection Department of Brazil’s Civil Police. Prosecutors now allege that marks on her body, including an injury near her left eye and bruising on her back, could be consistent with asphyxiation, possibly from an assault or strangulation.
Barbara Jankavski/InstagramBarbara Jankavski
Requested Examinations
To clarify the cause of death, prosecutors have asked the court to authorize exhumation so forensic teams can perform further tests, including neck X-rays to look for internal signs of strangulation and DNA analysis from under Jankavski’s fingernails to determine whether she resisted an attacker. As of the latest reports, courts have not yet approved the exhumation.
Scene Details and Social Media
São Paulo State Military Police who responded to the scene reported Jankavski was found wearing only underwear and with visible injuries. A friend told investigators that the facial wound might have resulted from a previous slip and fall; that account and other details remain under investigation. News outlets reporting on the case include g1 and CNN Brasil.
Jankavski had more than 55,000 followers on Instagram and roughly 344,000 on TikTok, where she posted about cosmetic procedures. Her last public social activity visible on her accounts was an Oct. 1 Instagram video with fellow influencer Avós Da Razão.
Note: The investigation is ongoing, and no final determination of homicide has been made. The requested exhumation and further forensic tests are intended to provide clearer evidence about the cause of death.
