According to the sisters' mother, Solange Santana Leite, her eldest daughter, was living in Portugal with her boyfriend for more than 9 years. Her younger daughter decided to follow the sister's example at the end of 2015, and their mutual friend joined them in January 2016.
An investigation into the disappearance of the three women is led being led by the Brazilian Federal Police. The elder sister's boyfriend Dinai Alves Gomes appears to be the main suspect. He disappeared immediately after it was announced that the bodies of the missing girls were found. According to people who knew the victims, Gomes worked in the shelter where the bodies were discovered.
Among the motives for the murder, police suspect that Gomes's intolerance to homosexuality may be a factor, as the younger sister Lidiana and her friend Thayane were in a relationship. In addition, Michele's friends revealed that Gomes often turned violent in his relationship with Michele.
Solange Santana Leite is currently collecting money to pay for the transportation of the bodies of the three murdered Brazilians home.
CORRECTION: a previous version of this article misidentified Minas Gerais as a Portuguese state, and Tires as a province of Cascais in Portugal.