Sister became lawyer to solve brother’s murder case

Justice for Isaias de Lira: Sister’s Fight Leads to Arrest

Isaias de Lira, 27, was kidnapped by fake police and shot in the head seven times. His sister, Allira Lira, suspected the killer was nearby. Ignored by police, she trained as a lawyer to seek justice for her brother.

Now, 21 years later, Allira reveals how her detective work led to the arrest of the mastermind behind the killing.

Details of the Kidnapping

Isaias was celebrating his birthday with friends in August 2005 when four men, claiming to be police officers, abducted him in Paulista, Brazil. They drove him to a dirt road and shot him seven times in the head. His body was found the next day, leading to a seven-year investigation with six detectives.

Allira’s Efforts

Allira, 54, a businesswoman, warned police about her brother’s ex-wife, Flavia Alves de Lira, but was ignored. When the investigation stalled, she enrolled in law school in 2011 to understand the justice system. She also began writing a book about her brother’s case.

Flavia’s Involvement

Allira believes Flavia plotted revenge after Isaias ended their turbulent marriage. Flavia first accused him of shooting at her home but changed tactics when police found he had an alibi. Allira stated that Flavia had threatened Isaias, but police did not take her statement seriously.

Legal Developments

In 2012, Flavia was arrested and jailed until 2014, when she was released on bail. She became a fugitive in 2015 after failing to appear at hearings. In November 2019, Flavia was convicted of aggravated homicide and sentenced to 29 years and nine months. However, she had fled the country.

Discovery and Arrest

While finishing her book, Allira discovered Flavia had married an Italian man and was living in Tuscany. After tracking down a marriage certificate, Allira found Flavia had changed her last name to “Alves Musto.” Allira informed prosecutors, leading to Flavia’s arrest by Interpol in Volterra on September 13 last year.

Next Steps

Extradition proceedings are underway to return Flavia to Brazil to serve her sentence. Allira now works with a legal team of eight lawyers to help others seek justice.