A woman has been arrested in connection with the death of American millionaire D’Wayne Antonio Morris, who was allegedly murdered after being drugged in a “Goodnight Cinderella” scam. Leticia Clara Bento da Silva, 23, is accused of luring Morris and his friend to a rented apartment in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, where they were drugged with GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), a powerful depressant.
Morris, 43, from Minneapolis, was found dead on August 8, 2023, after convulsing and foaming at the mouth. He had traveled to Brazil on business when he and his friend encountered da Silva and another woman at a local bar in the early hours of the morning. The group later went to the apartment, where Morris was drugged. His friend, feeling ill, left and reported feeling dizzy and disoriented. Morris was found unconscious at the apartment hours later and was confirmed dead by the time authorities arrived.
Surveillance footage captured the two women leaving the apartment about two hours after arriving, and police investigations quickly pointed to Leticia Clara Bento da Silva, who has a criminal history involving similar drug-induced robberies. A second accomplice, seen leaving with da Silva, remains unidentified.
Morris, the founder of Blue Waters Consulting and Soul Community Development Corporation, was known for managing a $14 million portfolio. His tragic death has sparked shockwaves, especially considering the brief time he had spent in Brazil. His life partner, Tamatha Richman, expressed her heartbreak, stating that Morris was clearly targeted during his short visit to Brazil.
The case highlights the dangers of drug-facilitated crimes, with GHB known to incapacitate victims, causing amnesia, sedation, and, in higher doses, death. Morris’s family has set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses, and over $30,000 has already been raised. His body will be returned to his birthplace, Jamaica, for burial.
The US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro has offered condolences and confirmed their monitoring of the investigation, while local authorities continue to search for the second suspect.
