The Portugal Judicial Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old girl in Odivelas, just outside Lisbon, a crime that underscores the escalating crisis of violence among adolescents in intimate relationships. The teenager, identified by local media as Bianca, was found dead on the stairwell of her apartment building on Wednesday evening, having suffered more than 20 stab wounds from at least three different knives, according to reports from Portuguese media outlets. The ex-boyfriend, David da Luz, 20, fled the scene and was struck by a truck on the IC17 motorway an hour later. He remains hospitalized in critical condition at Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon with multiple skull and body fractures.
Why This Matters
• Dangerous pattern: A 2024 national study by UMAR (Union of Women Alternative and Response) found that 18.5% of young people reported suffering some form of violence in intimate relationships. The most common abusive behavior is control—cited by 50.8% of respondents—including demands for social media passwords, monitoring location, and restricting friendships.
• Post-breakup risk: Of 1,023 victims supported by APAV in 2024 for dating violence, 691 sought help after ending the relationship, highlighting the heightened danger period.
• Legal recourse: Violence in dating relationships constitutes a crime under Article 152(1)(b) of the Portugal Criminal Code and is prosecuted as domestic violence—authorities do not require victim cooperation to proceed.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for stronger prevention programs in schools and more accessible support for adolescents trapped in abusive relationships. Data compiled by the Portugal Association for Victim Support (APAV) shows that requests for help related to domestic violence increased 29% between 2021 and 2024, with the fastest-growing demographic being victims and perpetrators aged 17 and under.
The Fatal Sequence
According to witness accounts provided to Portugal broadcaster SIC, Bianca ended her relationship with David da Luz on Tuesday. The two argued, and he left her residence, telling her he would not give up on her. Throughout Wednesday, he sent repeated phone calls and messages before arriving at her home unannounced.
Neighbors reported hearing screams and seeing the teenager attempt to flee down the stairwell. "I saw the girl lying on the ground with a bunch of stab wounds on her arm—I'm convinced they were defensive," one witness told SIC. "When I looked at her neck, I saw the cut." Blood was visible inside the apartment as well, suggesting the attack began upstairs and continued as she tried to escape.
Before the stabbing, authorities believe David da Luz struck Bianca with an iron bar. One of the murder weapons—a knife—was found beside her body. Emergency services were called by neighbors at approximately the time of the assault, but she was declared dead at the scene.
The Portugal Security Police (PSP) arrived first, followed by the Judicial Police, which has taken over the investigation. Neighbors gave conflicting statements: some said "the screams were recurrent," while others claimed they had never witnessed arguments or physical violence between the couple.
The Suspect's Condition
After fleeing the crime scene, David da Luz was hit by a truck on the IC17, a major commuter route into Lisbon. Media reports suggest he may have deliberately thrown himself in front of the vehicle in a suicide attempt, though the Portugal Judicial Police has not confirmed the circumstances. He was transported by ambulance to Hospital de Santa Maria, where he remains under police guard with life-threatening injuries, including skull fractures.
Authorities have not yet been able to conduct a formal interrogation due to his medical condition. Once stable, he is expected to be charged with homicide in the context of domestic violence, a crime that carries a sentence of two to eight years in prison, with aggravating factors that could extend the term significantly.
A National Epidemic Among the Young
Portugal has seen a sharp rise in violence among adolescent couples, particularly following breakups. A 2024 national study by UMAR found that 68.2% of Portuguese adolescents do not consider certain controlling or aggressive behaviors to be violence, often romanticizing jealousy and possessiveness as signs of love. This normalization is compounded by the cultural myth of "romantic love," which teaches young people that relationships should withstand any hardship—even abuse.
Between 2017 and 2022, 3.4% of reported dating violence cases involved attempted homicide, and 0.7% resulted in death. The 2025 Internal Security Report (RASI) recorded 29,644 domestic violence complaints nationwide, with dating relationships accounting for 6.4% of cases. Notably, complaints involving minors rose 8.6% in 2025, bucking the overall downward trend.
What This Means for Parents and Educators
Experts emphasize that the most dangerous period in an abusive relationship is often immediately after the breakup, when the abuser perceives a loss of control. Warning signs include:
• Excessive jealousy disguised as affection.
• Isolation from friends and family.
• Constant criticism and emotional manipulation.
• Monitoring of phone activity, social media, and whereabouts.
• Threats to self-harm or harm others if the relationship ends.
Schools remain the primary venue for prevention. Programs like UMAR's ART'HEMIS+, funded by the Portugal Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG), operate in classrooms from preschool through secondary school, teaching students to identify red flags and reject toxic relationship norms. The Hands Against Violence project, delivered in three-session formats, aims to build critical thinking and personal responsibility among teens.
Parents and guardians are urged to maintain open dialogue about healthy relationships and to watch for behavioral changes—sudden withdrawal, anxiety, unexplained injuries, or reluctance to discuss their partner. If a young person discloses abuse, authorities recommend not confronting the abuser directly, as this can escalate danger.
Available Support and Legal Protections
Several resources exist for adolescents experiencing violence in relationships:
• APAV Victim Support Line: 116 006 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.).
• SOS Child and Youth Line (Institute for Child and Adolescent Support): 116 111 (free, confidential, anonymous).
• Domestic Violence Information Service: 800 202 148.
• SNS 24 Mental Health Support: 808 24 24 24, option 4 (connects to clinical psychologists).
Dating violence is prosecuted under domestic violence statutes in Portugal, meaning police can proceed with charges even if the victim does not file a formal complaint. This is crucial in cases where fear, shame, or family pressure might prevent a young person from seeking justice.
Looking Ahead
The Odivelas investigation remains active, with forensic teams collecting evidence from the crime scene and interviewing family members and witnesses. Authorities have not disclosed whether David da Luz had any prior record of violence or if there had been earlier reports of abuse in the relationship.
For adolescents and their families, the case serves as a stark reminder that ending a relationship does not always end the danger. Experts stress that any threat—verbal, physical, or implied—should be taken seriously and reported immediately. Schools, police, and support organizations are urging communities to break the silence around dating violence and to recognize that love should never come with conditions of control, fear, or pain.
