A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police says Gatti was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found with blood stains at the scene. Milena Saraiva told The Associated Press that the Canadian also had a head injury.

Brazilian boxer Acelino "Popo" Freitas told the G1 Web site of Brazil's largest TV network Globo that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife, and that he "knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate."