A starving baby has been rescued in her cot while her murdered mother's body lay next to her for two days.
Neighbours hired a locksmith to break into the apartment in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, after hearing the infant crying constantly.
Inside they found hairdresser Sandra Maria de Sousa Silva dead on her bed and her eight-month-old baby in her cot.
The police allege Sandra's boyfriend - last seen on the day she went missing - killed her and fled on July 22.
The baby had bruising on her body and showed signs of dehydration and malnutrition.
According to reports, the victim's body had been violently attacked with wounds on her face and head, apparently caused by a bladed weapon.
The baby, who had apparently not been fed for at least two days, was rescued and taken to a local hospital for medical care.
Police believe the bruises and marks found on the baby girl's body were the result of desperate attempts to get her out of the crib.
They are investigating the hairdresser's death as femicide and suspect her Mexican boyfriend of carrying out the killing.
The suspect - known as Davi Rodrigues but whose real name is believed to be Daniel Ospina Garcia - was seen by neighbours leaving the victim's apartment on July 22.
Police released images of him leaving the victim's apartment block with a packed bag and are trying to track him down as the investigation continues.
Sao Paulo is one of the world's most populous cities with over 12million inhabitants.
