The São Paulo Public Ministry (MPSP) has formally charged four individuals in connection with the death of 21-year-old Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas. The victim fell 40 meters to her death on June 13, 2026, during a rope jump activity at the “Ponte do Esqueleto,” located between Limeira and Cordeirópolis, São Paulo. Prosecutors allege the jump proceeded without the required safety cord.
Charges filed against the group
According to the MPSP, Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff, Maicon Fernandes Cintra, and Vitor de Freitas Gonçalves face charges of qualified homicide with eventual intent. Prosecutors argue that these individuals recognized the inherent risks of the activity but failed to implement basic safety protocols, such as verifying equipment connections or performing a double-check. A fourth individual, Evelyne dos Santos Gonçalves, was charged with qualified homicide by improper omission and procedural fraud.
Did You Know? The fatal incident was captured on the victim’s own cellular device. Footage obtained by Fantástico shows Maria Eduarda being carried and launched by three instructors, while revealing that the primary safety cord was not attached to her body at the time of the jump.
Arguments from the defense
Legal representatives for the accused have contested the charges. Attorneys for Maicon Fernandes Cintra and Luis Felipe Feliciano Egoroff stated that their clients had no intention of causing death and did not assume the risk of such an outcome. Defense attorney Rafael Gomes dos Santos noted that they intend to argue during the legal proceedings that the conduct was culposa—lacking the intent or the assumption of risk required for the current charges—and that the qualifications applied by the prosecution are inappropriate. The defense for Evelyne dos Santos Gonçalves confirmed access to the charges and stated they would respond at the appropriate time.
Expert Insight: The legal stakes of “eventual intent”
Expert Insight: The classification of “dolo eventual” (eventual intent) is a significant legal turning point in this case. In Brazilian law, this occurs when an individual, while not desiring a specific criminal result, acts with indifference to the possibility of that result occurring. By charging the organizers with this, the Public Ministry is arguing that the pursuit of financial interest and social media promotion took precedence over mandatory safety checks, effectively transforming a commercial activity into a reckless gamble with human life.
What happens next in the judicial process?
The four defendants remain in custody while the court decides whether to accept the formal charges. The Public Ministry has requested that the men remain in preventive detention and that the temporary detention of Evelyne dos Santos Gonçalves be converted to preventive. Should the case proceed to trial, prosecutors have requested that the court mandate a R$ 200,000 indemnity for damages. If the judiciary accepts the complaint, an instructional hearing will be scheduled to hear the accused, which will determine if the case proceeds to the Tribunal do Júri.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rope jump?
Rope jump is a height-based activity where a person leaps from a structure while attached to a system of climbing ropes and pulleys designed to control the fall and create a pendulum motion, distinct from bungee jumping which utilizes an elastic cord.
Why were the suspects charged with fraud?
Evelyne dos Santos Gonçalves faces a charge of procedural fraud in addition to homicide, according to the MPSP filing.
What was the role of the company “Entre Cordas”?
The company, identified as “Entre Cordas,” was the firm responsible for the jumps. Prosecutors allege the activity was operated commercially without meeting legal requirements or safety standards.
How should regulators balance the oversight of commercial extreme sports to prevent such tragedies in the future?
