What was supposed to be a happy snap capturing a fun-filled Valentine’s Day boat trip has in fact become a chilling postcard of a Brazilian woman and her ex-lover, who has since been accused of her murder.
In a boat trip to Perth’s Swan River in 2013, Cecilia Haddad and Mario Marcelo appear friendly, as Haddad cosied up to her then husband, Felipe Torres.
Ms Haddad was reportedly murdered in her apartment on April 28, her body weighed down by rocks and dumped in a river, The Daily Telegraph reported.
A Valentines Day snap from 2013 is a chilling reminder of the history between the victim and accused. Pictured (from left) Felipe Torres, Cecilia Haddad, Marcelo Santoro, Juliana Vilela and Andre Atem
Her body was found floating by shocked kayakers in Lane Cove River in Woolwich, Sydney, on April 29.
The next day her ex-boyfriend Mario Santoro – who is now a suspect – flew home to Brazil where he remains as police fight to extradite him with an arrest warrant.
All five of the individuals pictured together allegedly studied engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University in Rio De Janeiro, and were reported to continue to maintain a close relationship, despite Haddad’s divorce with her husband.
‘They were always getting together, having a good time. It must be horrifying for them to see that photo today,’ a friend said.
Mario Marcelo Santoro (pictured) is officially a suspect of interest the murder of Cecilia Haddad following a warrant for his arrest being secured by NSW Police
Mr Santoro reportedly flew to Rio de Janeiro to visit his sick father in the hours between Ms Haddad (pictured), 38, going missing and her body washing up on April 29
Detectives now suspect that Miss Haddad, 38, was killed in her unit (pictured) in Ryde, north-west Sydney
They are reportedly investigating several crime scenes including her unit, the building’s garage and her red Fiat 500 car, which was found locked at West Ryde railway station.
A witness has apparently given a statement to police in which they claim they saw Santoro throw a set of keys into the Parramatta River from Gladesville Bridge. Police divers are yet to find them.
Santoro, 40, reportedly flew to Rio de Janeiro to see his sick father on the day Miss Haddad’s body washed up.
Police found Ms Haddad’s distinctive red Fiat 500 parked at a train station near her home
Police are understood to have submitted a request to the federal Attorney-General’s Department to have Mr Santoro, 40, extradited.
The federal government is also understood to have been asked for assistance to contact Brazilian authorities to see if they can help with the investigation.
Santoro would now become a fugitive if he arrives in Australia.
Complications surrounding Brazil and Australia’s extradition agreement could draw out the process.
Canberra is also understood to have been asked for assistance to contact Brazilian authorities to see if they can help with the investigation (crime scene where Ms Haddad’s body was found)
No charges have been laid against Santoro.
He said last month from Rio De Janeiro that he had spoken with Australian police and told them he was ‘at their disposal’.
‘I have nothing to say about this, you will have to speak to my lawyer,’ he said.
Santoro and Ms Haddad had previously been in a relationship, but separated in the weeks before her death.
His family this week told media Santoro would return to Sydney at some stage to answer questions from detectives.
Police are understood to have submitted a request to the federal Attorney-General’s Department to have Mr Santoro, 40, extradited (Ms Haddad pictured)
Mr Santoro and Ms Haddad (pictured together) had previously been in a relationship, but separated in the weeks before her death
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia exactly a month on from her death, Ms Haddad’s friend told of her desperation for police to arrest the person responsible – and how she hopes Santoro will follow through and speak to detectives.
‘I know he has stated that he (Mr Santoro) was making himself available to police, but to my knowledge that hasn’t happened,’ the friend said.
‘We do hope he will come to talk to police and help us understand what happened… because obviously he plays a big part in explaining some of her last movements.
‘As someone who has known her for over 20 years… you would hope he would invest his time and effort into helping police with their investigation.
His family this week told media Mr Santoro would return to Sydney at some stage to answer questions from detectives (Mr Santoro and Ms Haddad pictured together)
Ebony (right), a close friend of murdered Brazilian woman Cecilia Haddad (left), called on Mr Santoro to return to Australia to face police questions
Dozens gathered by the water at Woolwich to share stories and throw flower petals into the river
Ms Haddad and Mr Santoro had first met in 1995, studying together at a university in Brazil.
Almost two decades later she moved to Australia with her husband Felipe Torres and took up a role with mining giant BHP. She lived in Western Australia for close to a decade before moving to Sydney in 2016.
Friends, family and homicide detectives gathered on the banks of the Lane Cove River in Woolwich last month, for a final memorial to Ms Haddad.
At the exact spot where her body was found they told stories and threw flower petals into the water. They also hope to one day have a plaque remembering her ‘legendary smile and love’.
But just hours later her ex-boyfriend’s aunt went on the attack, accusing Ms Haddad of being involved romantically with other men and never actually dating her nephew.