Officials finally reveal what caused ‘Human Barbie’s tragic death, but her family says something doesn’t add up

Officials have confirmed that Bárbara Jankavski, the Brazilian influencer famously known as Human Barbie, died from an accidental cocaine overdose. Jankavski, who captivated millions with her striking looks and social media persona, passed away at just 31 years old. Despite the release of the official cause of death, her family has expressed doubts, insisting that the full story does not add up and has called for further investigation.

Jankavski was found unconscious in an apartment in São Paulo. The residence belonged to 51-year-old Renato Campos Pinto de Vitto, a public defender. Pinto de Vitto told police that he had paid Jankavski for sexual services that evening, which prompted authorities to launch a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

When officers from the São Paulo State Military Police arrived, they found Jankavski wearing only her underwear. According to reports cited by the Mirror, she had visible bruises on her back and an injury near her left eye, raising further questions about what had transpired in the hours before her death. The shocking scene has added to the confusion and grief surrounding the young influencer’s untimely passing.

The physical evidence raises serious questions about what happened

Her family doubts the official story. While authorities say the cause of death matches Pinto de Vitto’s claim that they used illegal drugs together before sleeping, the injuries found on her body create concerns.

Pinto de Vitto said he noticed Jankavski wasn’t moving in her sleep and called emergency services. He claimed he tried helping her for nearly nine minutes before paramedics came, but doctors confirmed she had already died when they arrived.

A friend gave another explanation for the facial injury. This friend told police that Jankavski had tripped and hit her face earlier that week.

Jankavski had built a large online following by transforming herself into a living doll. She had 55,000 Instagram followers and 344,000 TikTok followers. She underwent 27 plastic surgeries to look like a Barbie doll, inspired by the iconic doll’s long history. Her last known surgery was a facelift in June 2025.

She hadn’t posted on social media for over a month before her death. The Barbie brand has faced its own controversial packaging mistakes recently, though nothing compares to this tragedy.