Who is Thales Machado? Brazil municipal secretary kills himself and 2 sons after finding wife’s affair in Itumbiara apartment case

Nillohit Bagchi | Feb 15, 2026, 01:41 IST

After confirming his wife’s alleged affair through private surveillance, Itumbiara secretary Thales Machado shot his two young sons before taking his own life. The shocking familicide has shaken Goiás, triggered fierce online debate and left a grieving mother pleading that nothing justifies violence against innocent children.

X/@DailyLoud | After confirming his wife’s alleged affair through private surveillance, Itumbiara secretary Thales Machado shot his two young sons before taking his own life

Image credit : X/@DailyLoud | After confirming his wife’s alleged affair through private surveillance, Itumbiara secretary Thales Machado shot his two young sons before taking his own life

A quiet residential building in Itumbiara turned into a crime scene just before midnight on February 11, 2026. Residents at Condomínio Paraíso reported hearing gunshots coming from one of the apartments. When police forced their way inside, they found a scene that would soon shake the entire state of Goiás.

Thales Naves Alves Machado, 40, a senior municipal official and son in law of Mayor Dione Araújo, was dead in the main bedroom. A registered Glock pistol rested on his chest. Nearby lay his two sons, Miguel, 12, and Benício, 8, both critically injured.

Miguel died at the scene. Benício was rushed to Hospital Estadual de Itumbiara and underwent emergency surgery, but he did not survive his injuries and passed away two days later. Investigators also noted a strong smell of gasoline in the flat. Though no fire was started, authorities believe Machado may have intended to set the apartment alight.

From suspicion to surveillance

According to local reports, the tragedy did not erupt without warning. Machado had been grappling with deep suspicions that his wife, Sarah Tinoco Araújo, was having an affair. Sources close to the investigation say he hired a private detective to monitor her movements. He allegedly received video footage that confirmed what he feared. That confirmation appears to have pushed him into a spiral.

Tragic incident in Itumbiara, Brazil.

A municipal secretary, suspecting his wife of infidelity, installed surveillance and confirmed her affair through video footage.

In a devastating response, he killed his children before taking his own life. pic.twitter.com/t1EzELuqEb

— Being Political (@BeingPolitical1) February 14, 2026

Hours before the shooting, Machado posted an emotional video on social media featuring his sons. One clip showed a boy practising jiu jitsu. Another showed a child drawing while sitting on his father’s lap. The caption read in Portuguese, May God always bless my sons, Daddy loves you so much. In another post, later deleted, he referred to a marriage crisis and accused his wife of betrayal. Police believe the killings were premeditated. There is no indication of third party involvement. The case is being treated as double homicide followed by suicide.

A family at the centre of local power

Machado was not an obscure figure. An agronomist and business administrator educated at Universidade Luterana do Brasil, he had served as Secretary of Government in Itumbiara since 2021. He reportedly earned around R$19,000 a month and held significant influence in city affairs.

Thales Machado hired a private investigator and caught his wife cheating on him on a date red-handed. He also posted a video of himself in the car just a few days earlier. This event led him to murder his son and commit suicide after discovering his wife's alleged infidelity. pic.twitter.com/mT7dkQvyr5

— Sumola (@SumolaIdowu) February 14, 2026

For 15 years, his marriage to Sarah, the mayor’s daughter, appeared stable in public. The couple attended official events together and often projected an image of unity. Friends say there were few outward signs of a collapse behind closed doors. At the time of the shootings, Sarah was reportedly in São Paulo.

City hall declared three days of official mourning. Flags were lowered to half mast. Governor Ronaldo Caiado visited Itumbiara, calling the crime a severe blow to Goiás society.

Online outrage and a divided reaction

The horror quickly spread beyond the city through social media. Reactions were intense and emotional. Many people condemned Machado without hesitation. One user on X said, “Betrayal does not justify killing innocent children. They had no fault.” The comment was widely shared.

#Watch Thales Neves Machado (40), a Brazilian, shot his two sons and then committed suicide. Thales was married to Sara Tinoco, the daughter of Dion, the mayor of Itumbiara, Brazil. They had two sons. Thales suspected his wife, even when he had evidence.#Brazil #murder pic.twitter.com/kfTbeixAQK

— Mukund Shahi (@Mukundshahi73) February 14, 2026

Another wrote, “Killing the kids to punish the mother is pure cowardice.” That sentiment echoed across platforms. Yet some voices turned their anger toward Sarah. A few posts blamed her alleged infidelity for triggering the violence. Others pushed back strongly against that line of thinking, arguing that nothing can justify harming children.

Sarah later shared an open letter online. She described living the worst nightmare a mother can face. She admitted to marital mistakes but firmly rejected any attempt to excuse what happened. She wrote that nothing explains the barbarity committed against her innocent sons. Reports say she required an escort to attend her child’s funeral after receiving threats online.

The lasting scars of rage

Investigators are now focused on Machado’s mental state in the days leading up to the crime. The sequence of events, hiring surveillance, receiving footage, posting emotional messages, suggests planning rather than a sudden impulse. For many in Itumbiara, the political details now feel secondary. The overwhelming sense is grief.

Itumbiara, Brazil

> Thales Machado, an official serving as a secretary of the governor, suspected that his wife was cheating on him

> He hired a private detective.

> After the investigation, it was confirmed through footage that his wife was in a relationship with someone else

>… pic.twitter.com/pLTmwcgUiZ

— ︎ ︎venom (@venom1s) February 14, 2026

Two young boys lost their lives. A family was destroyed. A city is left asking how private pain turned into public tragedy. As one local resident put it in a widely shared comment, “The real victims here are the children. Always.”

GENERAL

Nillohit Bagchi