Posted on 12/01/2003 7:44:34 PM PST by knak
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - An American executive with Shell oil company was found slain in his Rio home, and the city's top police official said Monday investigators are trying to determine how attackers entered the heavily guarded house.
Todd Staheli, 39, vice president for joint ventures in the Southern Cone gas and power unit of oil giant Shell, was found dead Sunday morning by one of his four children.
His wife, Michele Staheli, suffered face and head wounds and remained in critical condition Monday at the Copa D'Or Hospital following emergency brain surgery.
Mrs. Staheli is "in a deep coma and shows signs of extensive brain damage," said a statement from the hospital's director, Joao Pantoja.
"Solving this mystery has the police department's full dedication," said Anthony Garotinho, Rio de Janeiro's public security secretary.
Earlier, police spokesman Renato Homem said the couple had been attacked with sharp instruments, but not with knives. He said nothing was stolen and that police did not know how the attackers could have entered the guarded house.
The Staheli family lived in an upper-class condominium in the Barra da Tijuca beachfront area. The family was from Utah, said Shell spokesman Ricardo David. He did not give the hometown.
The Staheli children — three girls aged 13, 5 and 3, and one boy aged 10 — are being cared for by family friends.
None of the children reported hearing any sounds, police said.
As crime has risen in Rio de Janeiro, some companies are threatening to move their operations.
That says it all.
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