Arturo Gatti's Widow Released from Prison as Authorities Rule His Death as Suicide

The dearth of former Boxing Champion Arturo Gatti came as a saddening shock to the boxing community as well as to his many Fans. Gatti's widow, Amanda Rodrigues soon became the suspect in his death.

Rodrigues reportedly found Gatti's body in the apartment they shared in the resort town of Porto de Galinhas. They couple had been there for a few days on what was to be a second honeymoon. The brought along their ten month old son, who was unhurt through the ordeal and is now in the care of Rodrigues' family in Brazil.

The assumption was that after a heated argument which saw Gatti pushing 23 year old Rodrigues to the ground, Rodrigues in an act of premeditated violence, strangled her husband with the strap of her purse, as he slept in a state of intoxication. Amanda Rodrigues was soon arrested and to be charged with the murder of her 37 year old husband.

In a twist of events, the boxer's widow has been since been released from prison as Brazilian authorities have ruled Gatti's death as a suicide. The news, released Thursday, saw Amanda Rodrigues immediately released from Prison.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Investigator Paulo Alberes stat ed that authorities have decided Gatti took his own life on July 11. When asked if the police had classified the case as a suicide, Alberes answered 'Yes', offering no futher details.

Judge Ildete Verissimo de Lima, however, who ordered the immediate release of Amanda Rodrigues after reviewing the police report, cited that the "victim took his own life by hanging" and the detention his wife was no longer necessary since the results of the investigation "excludes the posssibility of murder.""

While some friends and family of the Boxer still believe Amanda Rodrigues to have been involved in the death of her husband, Rodrigues has maintained her innocence from the start. In a phone interview she stated that she feels her husband may have killed himself out of fear that she was going to leave him after the violent public disagreement that took place before his death.

According to Rodrigues, the argument took place in the street. Gatti pushed his wife causing bodily hurt, the extent of which has not been mentioned. When the two arrived home, Rodrigues says that Gatti realized he had hurt his wife and he thought she would leave him. "He did that in a moment of weakness" Rodrigues says of the suicide. '"He was drunk, maybe he didn't know what he was doing, maybe he thought i would leave him the next day."

A day after the 37-year-old Gatti was found dead, the media was flooded with reports that police had said that Rodrigues had strangled Gatti with the strap of her purse as he slept in a drunken state.

Celip Avelino, Rodrigues' attorney said before that under the circumstances in which Gatti was found, suspended and hanged, there was no way her client could have been responsible as it would have been impossible for Rodrigues to suspend a man of Gatti's size and stature.

A week after the coroner's report, the police began to move away from the initial accusationan. The coroner's report stated Gatti may have taken his own life since he was found "suspended and hanged." While the report didn't exclude the possibility or murder, it stated that Gatti might have also died in an unexplained, freak accident or he could have committed suicide. For the duration of the investigation, Rodrigues remained in prison.

Rodrigues has said now her priority is to see the infant son she had with her late husband, as she grieves the loss of her husband. She has also expressed that she wants to clear her name since she is still a 'suspect' in the eyes of some of Gatti's family and friends.

According to Rodrigues, "All of my plans and dreams involved Arturo. I haven't been able to think of anything beyond that," she added "My plan now is to stay with my son, my father, mom and sister, nothing more than this."

Gatti's family and friends have described the couple's two-year marriage as tumultuous.

Gatti's mother, ida said in a telephone interview that " (Rodrigues) was yelling all the time, they were always fighting." Ida has also claimed that at times, when they fought, Rodrigues told her husband 'I'm going to kill you!'

Records obtained from the Court of Quebec's criminal and penal division, show that on April 16th, 2009, Gatti was charged on for violating a restraining order that had been filed against him. While records don't indicate the individual who filed the restraining order, Gatti's mother, Ida, confirmed that it was Rodrigues who had done so.

Still, as Rodrigues stresses her innocence she has adamently defended her relationship with Gatti. Gatti, Rodrigues says, married at the age of 34, having never been married before. She goes on to say that no one can doubt her love for her husband. "I was the only wife of Arturo and I want my good name back. Not only just for me, but out of respect for my husband and my son," she said.

Gatti, won two world titles in his 16-year professional career. He retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9.

Gatti's family and friends have since expressed doubt and disbelief that Gatti could have or would have killed himself. Fellow boxer and close friend Howard Grant has said "It doesn't make any sense."

The same sentiment appeared evident at a memorial Mass for the dead boxer, when Gatti's brother said the family may try to have Gatti's's body exhumed and have an autopsy conducted in Canada, Gatti's 'adopted home'.
Matchmaker Carl Moretti described Gatti as the sort of person that made those in the Boxing industry forget the old saying about never falling in love with a fighter. "It's safe to say that every one of us forgot that rule when it came to Arturo Gatti," Moretti said.Gatti is one of three former champs to have died in recent months. While it offers little, if any condolence, Gatti's death is the only one of the three cases that has been ruled as a 'non violent death.'

Source:

AP