Brazilian influencer known as the Human Barbie has her body exhumed amid a renewed homicide investigation

6 February 2026

Brazilian content creator Bárbara Jankavski, a 31-year-old social-media personality widely recognized as the Human Barbie, has seen the investigation into her death take a dramatic and unsettling turn now that her body has been exhumed to determine whether foul play was involved. Jankavski was found dead on November 2, 2025, at the home of a 51-year-old public defender in São Paulo, and her passing was initially ruled accidental, with authorities concluding that cardiac arrest tied to cocaine use was the likely cause. The decision, however, was met with immediate skepticism from Jankavski’s family, who pointed to marks on her body that they believe could indicate violence rather than an overdose, prompting prosecutors and a judge to reopen the case and order a new autopsy.

The exhumation took place on February 3, 2026, under a court order from São Paulo’s Court of Justice. Officials from the Homicide and Personal Protection Department, the unit tasked with probing murders and suspicious deaths, have taken over the case in hopes of clarifying what really happened in the hours before Jankavski’s death.

The new forensic work includes X-ray examinations of her neck and DNA tests involving material collected from beneath her fingernails, a standard investigative step when authorities are trying to determine whether a victim struggled with another person before dying. There are no formal suspects at this stage, and investigators have not released conclusions, but the move signals a clear shift from an accidental death determination to a potentially criminal inquiry.

When Jankavski was discovered at the home of the public defender, police at first considered her death suspicious because of visible injuries on her body. According to official reports, she was found wearing only underwear, with abnormalities such as a bruise near her eye and markings on her back. The man present at the scene, Renato Campos Pinto de Vitto, told authorities that he had hired Jankavski for sexual services and that the two had used drugs together before she was found unresponsive. He also said he attempted to resuscitate her before emergency services arrived. Initially, however, law enforcement attributed her passing to cocaine-related cardiac arrest and ruled the case accidental.

Jankavski’s family was never satisfied with that conclusion, believing it failed to take the totality of the evidence into account. They argued that standard forensic procedures had not been thoroughly applied and that crucial indicators of a possible assault were overlooked. Their persistent pressure on law enforcement and prosecutors contributed to the decision to revisit the case, prompting the judge to authorize exhumation so that a more intensive autopsy could be carried out by homicide investigators.

A significant reason for the renewed scrutiny is the pattern of injuries first reported at the scene. Marks on her neck and body raised questions about whether she might have been asphyxiated or physically harmed before her death. Prosecutors now hope the exhumed body will yield clearer answers through modern forensic analysis. Swabs taken from beneath her fingernails may reveal DNA evidence of another person’s presence, which could ultimately help clarify whether there was a struggle before Jankavski collapsed. X-rays of her neck will be studied to see if there are signs consistent with strangulation or another form of physical restraint.

Jankavski gained social-media attention for documenting her extensive cosmetic transformations, undergoing dozens of surgeries in an effort to resemble a life-size Barbie doll. Her candid portrayals of plastic-surgery procedures, including a facelift, helped her amass more than 55,000 Instagram followers and over 340,000 fans on TikTok. Her online persona was closely tied to beauty, transformation and personal optimism, which made news of her death especially shocking to her community of followers.

Online tributes flooded social platforms after news of her death first broke, with fans expressing condolences and disbelief that someone so full of life and confidence could be taken so suddenly. Many shared memories of her posts, lauding her courage in embracing cosmetic change and celebrating her distinct look and outgoing personality. Now, those same followers are watching closely as the investigation unfolds, with some expressing hope that the new examination will provide clarity and justice for Jankavski and her loved ones.

The decision to turn the case over to a homicide unit exemplifies how modern police work responds to advocacy and new evidence, even months after an initial ruling. In cases where family members question official findings, legal systems often allow for review and re-evaluation, particularly when expert forensic work can revisit earlier assumptions or incomplete analyses. Authorities have not announced a timeline for releasing results from the new autopsy, but the investigative team is expected to issue findings once the additional tests are completed.

The exhumation of Jankavski’s body marks a serious pivot in the public understanding of her death, casting a spotlight on what began as a tragic passing and evolving into a potentially criminal investigation that could have far-reaching implications for those involved. For her friends, family and followers, the renewed investigative push represents both heartbreak and hope as they seek definitive answers about a life that captivated many and ended under troubling circumstances.