Bernardo Boldrini Case: Father and Stepmother Convicted for 11-Year-Old's Murder

In April 2014, a doctor reported his 11-year-old son missing in Três Passos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The investigation quickly revealed that the boy's father, surgeon Leandro Boldrini, and his stepmother, Graciele Ugulini, were involved in the murder of Bernardo Uglione Boldrini. Bernardo was last seen on April 4, and his father initially claimed he had gone to a friend's house, only to discover later that he never arrived. Bernardo lived with his father, stepmother, and a younger half-sister. The search for Bernardo concluded ten days later when his body was found buried in a wooded area in Frederico Westphalen, approximately 80 kilometers from Três Passos. On the same day the body was discovered, Leandro Boldrini, Graciele Ugulini, and a friend of Graciele's, Edelvânia Wirganovicz, were arrested. Edelvânia reportedly indicated the burial site, and security camera footage showing Edelvânia's car without the boy further implicated her. Necropsy results indicated Bernardo did not die from being buried alive; he was sedated with midazolam, a controlled substance, before a lethal injection. The investigation suggested the prescription for this sedative bore the father's stamp and signature. Later, Edelvânia's brother, Evandro Wirganovicz, was arrested for allegedly digging the grave days prior. Investigators believe the group acted in a planned manner, with evidence of financial transactions suggesting Edelvânia and her brother were paid to participate. The case also highlighted prior family conflicts, as Bernardo had sought legal intervention earlier in 2014, reporting neglect and domestic issues, and witnesses described him as suffering verbal abuse and isolation. Ultimately, Leandro Boldrini and Graciele Ugulini received sentences exceeding 30 years, Edelvânia was sentenced to nearly 23 years, and Evandro received a sentence of nine and a half years.