A woman on a bungee jumping excursion in southeastern Brazil was thrown to her death over the weekend when company employees allegedly failed to secure her safety equipment, according to local authorities.
The woman, identified by Brazilian news outlet Jornal Nacional as Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, 21, died on Saturday, June 13, Governo do Estado de São Paulo confirmed to USA TODAY.
Citing a police report, São Paulo officials said the woman was bungee jumping at Ponte do Esqueleto, known as Skeleton Bridge in Limeira, a city in southeastern Brazil. The bridge is about 130 feet high, per Jornal Nacional.
Her safety equipment was not properly secured during the jump, government authorities alleged. She did not survive the fall, and emergency medical services confirmed her death.
Men detained in connection with the incident
Since her death, officials have questioned six people at the Limeira Police Station in southeastern Brazil. The six people provided statements, and three of them remained in custody, officials told USA TODAY.
Three men, ages 27, 32 and 42, were arrested for homicide involving recklessness, or knowing that one’s actions could lead to death.
Lawyers representing the three men said in a statement to Jornal Nacional that the individuals were experienced in bungee jumping and that this was their first fatality after operating for years. But local officials alleged to the outletthat the team operating the jump had no proper credentials and weren’t authorized to be there.
An investigation is ongoing to determine any potential liability, the government wrote in its June 15 email to USA TODAY.
Video shows deadly incident
According to Jornal Nacional, the young woman had paid for an excursion that included a guided hike and a rope jump from the decommissioned bridge.
Video circulating on social media shows three employees lifting Freitas into the air and then launching her off the 130-foot bridge. While she appears to be wearing a harness, there is no rope attached to her.
USA TODAY did not link to the video for sensitivity reasons. Viewer discretion is advised.
Jornal Nacional reported that a military police helicopter was dispatched to rescue her, but she died at the scene.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

A man accused of killing three people in a rural Hawaii community has been charged with multiple criminal offenses, including murder, authorities said.
Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, of Pāhoa, Hawaii, faces one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths, the Hawaiʻi Police Department said in a news release on May 30. He has also been charged with multiple counts of theft, burglary, criminal property damage, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, and unauthorized control of propelled vehicle, according to police.
“The second-degree murder charges pertain to the three homicide victims,” police said in the news release. “Murder in the first-degree pertains to intentionally or knowingly killing two or more people.”
Baker is being held without bond on the murder charges and will not be eligible for release even if he makes bail for the property crimes, according to police. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on June 1.
The charges against Baker come after a manhunt on the Island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, where the three victims were found in the remote community of Puna. Baker was arrested on May 28 after being spotted by a witness and seen on surveillance footage in the Kalapana area, a coastal town in the Puna district, police previously said.
Residents of the community, which is “known for its free-spirited vibe,” according to the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, were shocked by the killings. Some residents hunkered down in their homes as police searched for Baker, and community events were canceled or postponed due to public safety concerns, reported the Honolulu Civil Beat.
Manhunt for suspect launched after 3 ‘suspicious deaths’ discovered in Hawaii community
On May 26, the Hawaiʻi Police Department said it was investigating “two separate suspicious deaths of elderly males that occurred in Puna in the past two days.” The next day, police announced that they were investigating a third “suspicious death” in the community.
Local police launched an island-wide search on May 27 for Baker, who they said was the lone suspect in the three deaths. Federal and state authorities later joined in the investigation.
At the time, police said Baker was considered “armed and extremely dangerous” and urged the public not to approach him. Police also increased patrol presence in the area during the search, according to Hawaiʻi Police Chief Reed Mahuna.
During a news conference on May 27, Capt. Jeremy Scott Lewis said officers responded to the first incident at around 8 p.m. local time on May 25. After arriving at a residence in the area, Puna patrol officers located a 69-year-old man “partially submerged inside a cement pond,” according to Lewis.
“At the initial stages of the investigation, detectives could not immediately determine whether foul play was involved, as there were no indications that the death may have been related or possibly to a medical incident,” Lewis said at the news conference.
An autopsy later determined that the death was a homicide, according to Lewis. Police identified the first victim as Robert Shine, and his cause of death was strangulation, according to a news release.
The second death was discovered at about 12:40 p.m. local time on May 26, when officers found a 79-year-old man with blunt force trauma at another residence, Lewis said. Police have not publicly identified the second victim pending notification of family, but neighbors and friends identified him as Chitta Morse, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat and Hawaii News Now.
The third victim was also found on May 26 at about 10 p.m. local time, when officers responded to a residence for a welfare check and discovered a 69-year-old man dead with apparent injuries, Lewis said. He was identified as John Carse, and his cause of death was “sharp force trauma,” police said an autopsy indicated.
The first and second deaths occurred in “close proximity,” about 400 to 500 feet, according to Lewis. The third death occurred about 19 miles away from the first two victims.
“These are a tragic series of events, and our thoughts are with those who are grieving at this time,” Mahuna said at the news conference.
Suspect arrested after police found him hiding in a small cave
In a news release, police said they arrested Baker at about 2:38 p.m. local time on May 28 after receiving a report that a man “resembling Baker was observed on video surveillance hiding within a vacant lot in the Kaimu area of Kalapana.” Witnesses told police that they saw the man “repeatedly ducking down as passing traffic approached,” according to the news release.
The surveillance footage also caught Baker fleeing from the initial property onto an adjacent property, police said. Officers responded to the area and found Baker hiding in a small cave on the neighboring property.
Authorities previously said they could not reveal why they believe the killings are linked, but said they were “confident” the suspect is connected to all three and that a single suspect was involved. A motive was not yet known, police said.
The victims had no known connection between them, other than that the first two lived in proximity, police said. Baker was previously known to police, Mahuna said, without providing more details.
The Honolulu Civil Beat reported that a neighbor who was living on a Pāhoa ​farm with Baker had reported feeling nervous about his aggressive behavior and applied for a temporary restraining order. Another woman also applied for a temporary restraining order against Baker that same day, according to the news outlet.
The temporary restraining orders were filed about three days before the first victim’s body was discovered by police and were both denied by a judge, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY

Oura has officially launched a new, slimmer version of its popular smart ring.
Dubbed Oura Ring 5, the new design promises a 40% smaller ring with other improvements, including a more scratch-resistant titanium finish, a longer-lasting battery, and tracking upgrades.
Plus, if you have the Platinum Card® from American Express, you can save up to $200 with an annual statement credit (enrollment required). So if you skipped the Oura Ring in the past because the design felt too bulky (which, admittedly, wasn’t for everyone), this slimmer redesign could change your mind.
Here’s how you can join the waitlist now.
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Preorder the Oura Ring 5
The newest Oura Ring design features a thinner, lighter profile than previous generations, making it more comfortable for all-day wear while still offering the same suite of health and wellness-tracking features. The smart ring can monitor sleep, activity, stress levels, heart rate, and provide a daily readiness score, all through the Oura app (iOS, Android).
The new Oura Ring 5 is available for preorder only, starting today, May 28, 2026, and will begin shipping on Thursday, June 4, 2026. It comes in the same colors as the Oura Ring 4:
Silver and Black: $399
Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold, and Deep Rose: $499
A complimentary 1-year purchase protection plan is included with every new device purchase. As with previous Oura Ring launches, your first shipment will include a sizing kit, and the actual ring ships in a second delivery after you confirm your ring size.
New Oura Ring users get their first month of the Oura Ring membership completely free. After that, you’ll want to factor in the ongoing cost of an Oura Ring membership: $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year.
How To Use Amex Platinum Card’s Oura Ring Credit
The Amex Platinum card features an annual, up to $200 Oura Ring credit, which applies to eligible purchases on Oura Ring’s website — not another retailer. Note that this annual statement credit cannot be used toward the ongoing membership fee, which is required to unlock the full suite of features and data insights.
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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Welcome Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
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Why We Like This Card
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros & Cons
Pros
The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash and Uber One, Resy, lululemon credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR+ credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts and Amex International Airline Program
Access to Amex transfer partners
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Cons
$895 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Card Highlights
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
$600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
$209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
$300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
$895 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
American Express Membership Rewards
You’ll need to enroll for the statement credit just once, available in the benefits section of your online American Express account.
Once enrolled, your card is eligible for up to $200 in annual statement credits, and remember that this benefit is available per calendar year. So if you’ve previously purchased an Oura Ring with the Amex Platinum card in 2025, luckily, you can score another statement credit for 2026.
That $200 credit cuts the price of the Oura Ring 5 in half before taxes and fees.
Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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Final Thoughts
The Oura Ring 5 is officially here, and its redesigned look is far more subtle than previous generations. If you’ve been considering one and carry the Amex Platinum card, you can even cut the cost in half by using the card’s up to $200 annual statement credit.
Featured Image Credit: Oura
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About Stella Shon
With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.
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Platinum Card® from American Express
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Show more
With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
$600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
$209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
$300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
$895 annual fee.
Terms Apply.