Photos reveal the impact of drug addiction on the life of a homeless woman found dead in Praia Grande.

247 - Images circulating on social media show the profound physical and social transformation of Monica Bragaia, 49, found dead last Sunday (25) near a landfill in Praia Grande, on the coast of São Paulo. The woman had been battling drug addiction for about a decade and, for the last six years, had been living on the streets, according to family members.

Monica's body was found on the sidewalk of Avenida dos Trabalhadores, in the Sítio do Campo neighborhood. According to the police report, there were no apparent signs of violence. She was not carrying any identification and was identified by her 80-year-old father, who confirmed to the police her history of drug use and social vulnerability.

In his statement to the authorities, the elderly man reported that Monica began using drugs such as cocaine and marijuana, later moving on to crack, which significantly worsened her health and her relationship with her family. The so-called "before and after" images show the impact of the addiction over the years.

A longtime friend, journalist Antonio Cassimiro, 59, told g1 that he met Monica about 30 years ago when she was taking supplementary education courses alongside her mother, Antonia, at a school where he worked as an inspector. According to him, the memory he holds is of a young woman full of life. “When I met Monica, she was a very striking young woman. People liked her because of her always cheerful demeanor. A radiant girl,” he stated.

Cassimiro reported that, after the school period, he still had indirect contact with the family through the church attended by Monica's mother. At the time, according to him, there were no clear signs of addiction. "She wasn't a drug user, but we noticed that she had a very intense social life. Like all young people, she went to parties, the beach," he recalled.

Over the years, however, the situation changed drastically. The journalist recounted that Monica faced a serious episode of emotional distress, even attempting suicide. After this episode, she grew closer to the church with her mother's support, but distanced herself again after her mother's death. "She began to behave like someone who was struggling with alcohol or drugs," he said.

The two met again in 2018, near the same church Monica used to attend. The image captured on that occasion, according to Cassimiro, was striking. "She was limping, completely disfigured, her hair looked like it hadn't been washed in a long time, and the smell was too," he described. Despite attempts to talk to her and offers of help, Monica refused to begin a recovery process.

According to the journalist, the family was contacted and tried to intervene, but without success. “The family tried their best, but there was no way. She was very strong, but [the chemical dependency] was stronger than her. And that's sad,” he lamented. For him, the story highlights the limits of family intervention in the face of severe addiction and reinforces the need for structured public policies. “Families have a limit. So, the intervention of public authorities is even more important,” he stated.

Monica's body was found after an anonymous tip was received by the Military Police. Officers contacted the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), which confirmed her death at the scene. The area was cordoned off for forensic examination, and the case was registered as a suspicious death at the Praia Grande Judicial Police Station (CPJ), which is investigating the circumstances of her death.