Meet Renato Seabra, model described as 'person of interest' in castration, murder of Carlos Castro
Renato Seabra is a person of interest in the bloody murder of Carlos Castro. Related NewsSlain journalist told pal his lover was scaring himMan found in blood-splattered Times Square hotel room, cops find suspect
Renato Seabra, with his sparkling smile and chiseled good looks, was a basketball star, a fashion model and a reality show celebrity in his native Portugal.
Now the hunky 20-year-old is a person of interest in a gruesome Times Square homicide.
Seabra has packed a lot of living into his two decades, emerging from the small town of Cantanhede to earn national attention in his European homeland.
Seabra left his hometown, with its 12,000 residents, to attend college at the University of Coimbra - where his squad became national basketball champions, the Portuguese equivalent of Duke University's team.
From there, the young man launched his modeling career.
Seabra quickly gained attention as a contestant on a top model reality show, "A Procura do Sonho" - or "Searching for a Dream." A Facebook fan club drew more than 2,000 Seabra supporters.
Now the hunky 20-year-old is a person of interest in a gruesome Times Square homicide.
Seabra has packed a lot of living into his two decades, emerging from the small town of Cantanhede to earn national attention in his European homeland.
Seabra left his hometown, with its 12,000 residents, to attend college at the University of Coimbra - where his squad became national basketball champions, the Portuguese equivalent of Duke University's team.
From there, the young man launched his modeling career.
Seabra quickly gained attention as a contestant on a top model reality show, "A Procura do Sonho" - or "Searching for a Dream." A Facebook fan club drew more than 2,000 Seabra supporters.
Carlos Castro (left) and Renato Seabra reportedly had a May-December romance.
His dream didn't come completely true: While Seabra was one of three finalists, he failed to capture the top prize. But he did receive a modeling contract, from designer Fatima Lopes, the show's developer and one of its judges.
"He had his five minutes of fame, but he was nothing in Portugal," said socialite Vicky Fernandes, a friend of victim Carlos Castro's. "Everybody thought he was calm, a normal person."
In recent months, Seabra had begun a May-December relationship with Castro, 65, a well-known Portuguese journalist.
"This kid was probably looking for fame and money," said Luis Pires, editor of the Portuguese newspaper Luso Americano and a friend of Castro's. "He took a chance to be very close to a man who could promote him. It was a risky relationship."
In an interview with a Portuguese newspaper near his hometown, Seabra described himself as religious and shy. He's also an admitted mama's boy, confessing his mother was responsible for his modeling career.
"My mom told me to keep trying, because I wasn't taking modeling seriously," Seabra said. "I'm shy in front of the camera, especially when everyone's watching me."
After reaching the reality show finals, Seabra said, he wasn't thanking his mother.
"That same night, I prayed to God, saying thank you," he said. "And the next morning, I woke up to pray again."
BY Erica Pearson and Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Originally Published:Saturday, January 8th 2011, 1:21 PM
Updated: Saturday, January 8th 2011, 1:21 PM
With Marcus Santos and Ben Chapman
epearson@nydailynews.com
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/01/08/2011-01-08_meet_renato_seabra_model_described_as_person_of_interest_in_castration_murder_of.html
His dream didn't come completely true: While Seabra was one of three finalists, he failed to capture the top prize. But he did receive a modeling contract, from designer Fatima Lopes, the show's developer and one of its judges.
"He had his five minutes of fame, but he was nothing in Portugal," said socialite Vicky Fernandes, a friend of victim Carlos Castro's. "Everybody thought he was calm, a normal person."
In recent months, Seabra had begun a May-December relationship with Castro, 65, a well-known Portuguese journalist.
"This kid was probably looking for fame and money," said Luis Pires, editor of the Portuguese newspaper Luso Americano and a friend of Castro's. "He took a chance to be very close to a man who could promote him. It was a risky relationship."
In an interview with a Portuguese newspaper near his hometown, Seabra described himself as religious and shy. He's also an admitted mama's boy, confessing his mother was responsible for his modeling career.
"My mom told me to keep trying, because I wasn't taking modeling seriously," Seabra said. "I'm shy in front of the camera, especially when everyone's watching me."
After reaching the reality show finals, Seabra said, he wasn't thanking his mother.
"That same night, I prayed to God, saying thank you," he said. "And the next morning, I woke up to pray again."
BY Erica Pearson and Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Originally Published:Saturday, January 8th 2011, 1:21 PM
Updated: Saturday, January 8th 2011, 1:21 PM
With Marcus Santos and Ben Chapman
epearson@nydailynews.com
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/01/08/2011-01-08_meet_renato_seabra_model_described_as_person_of_interest_in_castration_murder_of.html
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