SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Influencer Henrique Medeiros, known for his popular pranks, has been found dead near his home after altering his Christmas plans at the last minute. Police have launched a murder inquiry into the 26-year-old’s death and are seeking his friend, who spent Christmas Eve with him.
The influencer, with nearly two million followers on YouTube and Instagram, had changed his plans to have dinner with his family, informing them last minute that he was heading to a friend’s house. He was last seen walking back to his own property after dinner with his friend.
Before his body was discovered in a makeshift grave in the garden of the house where he was last seen, he sent a WhatsApp message to his family on Christmas Eve, requesting cash in a joking manner and expressing his love for them. His family reported him missing on Boxing Day, sparking public appeals for information on his whereabouts.
There is speculation that his disappearance may be linked to local resentment over some of his prank videos. However, his family maintains that the content was always agreed upon with those involved in the videos, and he had made friends rather than enemies.
Henrique had been gaining popularity on social media for the past six years and recently began editing videos for other influencers. His close relationship with his late father, who passed away in February, was evident in the videos they shared.
The influencer’s sudden fame has been overshadowed by the tragedy of his untimely death, and his family and fans are left mourning the loss of a vibrant young star. The investigation into his murder is ongoing, with authorities searching for the suspect, who is also a friend of the influencer.