Eric Christian Diaz Arrested After Alleged Elevator Assault on Girlfriend in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro

Eric Christian Diaz Hernandez, a 24-year-old American tourist, has been arrested and formally charged in connection with an alleged assault on his girlfriend inside an elevator in the Botafogo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

According to the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ), Diaz is accused of attacking his 22-year-old girlfriend, also an American citizen, during the early morning hours of October 26. The incident reportedly occurred inside the elevator of a residential building in the South Zone of the city, where the couple was staying during a trip to Brazil.

Authorities stated that a security camera inside the elevator captured the incident. Prosecutors allege that the victim was repeatedly struck within a very short period of time. Following the incident, military police were called to the scene and arrested Diaz on the spot. He was then taken to the Special Police Station for Tourist Assistance (DEAT).

The MPRJ, through its 1st Prosecutor’s Office, which handles cases from the 1st and 5th Domestic and Family Violence Courts of the capital, filed formal charges against Diaz. The case was officially accepted by the court this week.

Diaz has since appeared at an evidentiary hearing before the 1st Court of Domestic and Family Violence Against Women in Rio de Janeiro. During the hearing, his defense requested the return of his passport, but the court denied the request, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need to complete the investigative process.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that it is awaiting the completion of additional court-ordered investigative steps before moving forward with the case. Authorities have not released further details at this time, and the legal proceedings remain ongoing.