On September 14, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil a 49-year-old model met a tragic end as she fell from the fifth floor of a building.
The circumstances of Sabine Boghici’s death remain under police investigation, with several theories, including suicide, being contemplated.
Beyond her modeling career, Boghici also pursued careers as a singer and actress.
Her arrest in August 2022 brought to light a twisted tale of deception, superstition, and stolen art. At the heart of this scam was a fake psychic prediction asserting Boghici’s imminent death, a claim further corroborated by a counterfeit fortune teller and an Afro-Brazilian priestess.
Alarmed by this ‘prophecy,’ Boghici’s mother, Geneviève, 83, began making regular payments in a desperate attempt to safeguard her daughter’s life. These payments, purportedly for “spiritual work,” amounted to an astonishing near $150 million.
A significant portion of this amount came from valuable artworks, including masterpieces by renowned Brazilian artists Tarsila do Amaral and Emiliano Di Cavalcanti which were part of a collection Geneviève inherited from her father, Jean Boghici.
Under the pretense that these artworks carried “the evil eye” and needed spiritual cleansing, Sabine Boghici and her wife, Rosa Stanesco Nicolau, who is now incarcerated for her alleged involvement in the scam, routinely removed them from Geneviève’s home, leaving her powerless.
However, Geneviève’s suspicions grew, leading her to halt the monetary transfers in February 2020. In retaliation, Boghici was accused of isolating her mother by severing communication, resorting to threats, and dismissing domestic help, further facilitating the theft of more artworks. Police videos from subsequent raids showcase authorities uncovering artworks hidden under a bed.
The extensive deceit led to charges against six individuals for embezzlement, extortion, false imprisonment, and criminal association. Both Boghici and wife Nicolau found themselves behind bars, though Boghici later secured bail in March.
A court appearance was set for September 21. However, following Boghici’s untimely death, her attorney, Hugo Novais, announced the case against her has been closed, though legal action against the other accused parties continues.
The investigation into Boghici’s death continues.
