Couple who wanted their own child 'killed pregnant mum as they tried to cut baby from her belly

A married couple who couldn't have children kidnapped a pregnant mum and cut the baby from her belly - killing them both

Thaina da Silva Pinto, 21, and husband Fabio Luiz Lima abducted 22-year-old Rayanni Christini Costa and planned to remove her baby with a knife to keep for themselves

But the infant and mum both died as the couple cut through the woman's belly

Investigators yesterday found the charred bodies of what they believe are Ms Costa, who disappeared two weeks ago, and her baby in the garden of the couple's home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Pinto, who has been married to Lima for three years, had reportedly convinced friends and family that she was pregnant with a girl after posting pictures on social networking sites showing her with an enlarged belly.

In one Facebook post she published photos of baby clothes under the caption: "Come soon my princess!"

But in reality Pinton, who was desperate for her own baby, had been told by doctors that she couldn't have children because of cysts on her ovaries.

Police discovered she had made contact with other poor, young mothers in Rio de Janeiro after joining WhatsApp groups for people wanting to donate baby items, such as clothes, nappies and toys.

Pinto, who used the name Lidia in the groups, would say she had a daughter herself, was a churchgoer and had clothes and a baby stroller to donate.

She had arranged to meet some of the other women too, but had always cancelled after finding out they would be coming accompanied by friends - frustrating the couple's alleged plans

Single mother Ms Costa, however, left her home in the Bangu area of the city on her own on December 13 after dropping off her three-year-old daughter at the creche, saying she was going to collect donations for her baby

After meeting Pinto at the Central do Brasil train station in Rio, she convinced her to accompany her back to her home, where husband Lima was waiting, it is alleged

Police believe that, after cutting through Ms Costa's belly, the couple discovered that Ms Costa was only seven months pregnant, not eight and a half as she had told them

Police chief Elen Souto, from Rio's Department of Missing Persons, said a knife was found in the home and there were pools of blood in several rooms

She said: "We believe that they tried to force Rayanni's labour. In this process, the baby died. So they killed the mother too."

She said investigators were shocked at how "cold" the couple were

She said: "They are cold, calculating and showed no regret

"She (Pinto) held her ground for more than 20 hours, saying she was pregnant

"There appears to be a level of psychopathy there, as she also deceived her own family, telling them on previous occasions that she was pregnant

"There are photos of Thaina on social network sites in which she appears with a swollen belly

"We still don't know if she took any medication to become that way or if it was a case of psychological pregnancy, which is possible because her mother has also had these symptoms in the past."

Pinto and Lima are under arrest accused of double homicide and concealment of corpses.