COPS have launched a murder enquiry after a Brazilian fashion designer was found dead in her bedroom with a plastic bag over her head and her hands tied.

       The body of the young woman was discovered at her house in the small town of Paraty outside Rio de Janeiro, on November 5, Brazilian police confirmed.

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       Thalissa Nunes Dourado was discovered with a plastic bag over her head and her hands tied Credit: Newsflash 4

       Police have now opened a murder investigation into the 27-year-old's death Credit: Newsflash

       Local authorities identified the victim as Thalissa Nunes Dourado, a 27-year-old fashion designer and language teacher, and are treating her death as murder.

       According to witnesses, Thalissa was last seen after returning home from a night out with friends.

       The pals, who reportedly attended her language school, told police that the woman had injured herself while drinking and had patched her up before leaving the premises.

       The next morning, after she failed to come down from her room, her housemate tragically discovered the fashion designer asphyxiated with her hands tied behind her backs.

       When medics were called to the scene at roughly 11am, they determined that she had been dead for several hours.

       Distraught family members believe that the 27-year-old’s cause of death was suicide after she had previously attempted to take her own life, reports suggest.

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       Her pal and housemate, Vivian Tubertino, told UOL that “she was already in very depressive condition,” in the lead up to her death, adding that it had gotten “much worse in the last two weeks."

       However, local cops have now launched a murder investigation after reviewing footage from CCTV cameras in the area from the night of the incident.

       Last week, police chief Marcelo Haddad confirmed that several suspects have now been taken into custody, reported local media outlet Metropoles.

       In a statement, Haddad said: "The images point to important and decisive elements for the investigation.

       “The testimonies also corroborate our thesis, as we listened to the various people who were with her in her last moments, in the early hours."

       He added: "The investigations are already at an advanced stage, but the investigation is confidential so as not to disturb the progress of the case.

       “We already have suspects of the crime, but we are waiting for the forensic reports from the crime scene and the autopsy to conclude."

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       The fashion designer and teacher reportedly suffered from depression Credit: Newsflash 4

       However, an investigation into her cause of death is ongoing Credit: Newsflash

       If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.