Clarinha Case: After 55 days of death, the last DNA is negative and the body of an unidentified patient can be buried | Holy Spirit

Almost two months after Clarinha’s death, on March 14, in Vitória, the body of the unidentified patient will be released for wake and burial, after attempts to identify possible family members have been exhausted. The information was confirmed this Thursday morning (9), by Colonel Jorge Potratz, responsible for the main care of the patient during the 24 years she was hospitalized.

Twelve compatibility tests were carried out by the Scientific Police of the State of Espírito Santo with possible family members during this period, eight of which were fingerprint comparisons and four DNA tests.

Understand the story of the mysterious patient Clarinha, who was in a coma for 24 years

According to Colonel Potratz, the Civil Police has already requested a court decision that authorizes the registration of the death to be made, and a funeral home will be called for the wake. However, the retired doctor still doesn’t know when the funeral will take place.

“I don’t know the step-by-step process of Justice, but they are guiding me through this bureaucratic part. I have already contacted a funeral company that offered to help with the wake, but they still can’t do anything, as they depend on the death certificate. I don’t know say when she will be buried”, he said.

The head of the Legal Medical Department (DML), Wanderson Lugão, confirmed that the team received Clarinha’s civil registration and made a death declaration.

“We filled in the death certificate with the gaps already foreseen, such as, for example, surname and parents’ names. The document will be delivered to Colonel Potratz, who made himself available to be responsible for Clarinha. As the body remained with us in DML more than 15 days and because he is not a first-degree relative, he will need to request judicial release, the deadline depends on the judge who receives the request”, explained Lugão.

The head of the DML recalled that, normally, the deadline for releasing a body at the DML is 30 days, but, as this was a very specific case, it was established from the beginning that the release would require a longer period. This Thursday (9), marks 55 days since Clarinha’s death.

“This case is not common in our routine. I don’t remember another one with a fictitious name or so many comparisons. Generally, when it is not a case of national repercussion like this, and we have an unidentified corpse, two or three families on average come for examinations, and usually from Greater Vitória. Unfortunately, we were unable to identify a compatible family, but it’s good that there are people interested in giving her a dignified closure,” he said.

If new requests for compatibility exams arise, the Vitória DML team will try to help.

“If a case appears in the future and there is confirmation of compatibility or kinship, a request to a judge will be necessary for the family to collect the remains and bury them in their city, if that is their wish.”

During this period, Clarinha’s body was refrigerated at the DML to maintain its condition until it was released for wake and/or burial.

“The body is stored in a single drawer, at a very low temperature, minus 10 degrees, and is preserved 100%, as if the person had just died,” said Lugão.

The City Hall of Vitória, the city where Clarinha was hospitalized for 24 years, informed that it is entirely at the disposal of the authorities and bodies responsible for carrying out the body identification processes and assisting with whatever is necessary, especially the procedures related to burial.

Clarinha’s story gained repercussion after a report on the case to be shown on Fantástico, in 2016. The woman was run over on Valentine’s Day, on June 12, 2000, in the Center of Vitória. From there, she was taken without documents to receive medical care, arrived unconscious and her identification was never proven by any family member.

During all these years, she was hospitalized in a vegetative state in city hospitals. Clarinha died on March 14, after feeling ill after a bronchoaspiration.