Maria Aparecida was stabbed to death this Thursday (09) Personal collection Maria Aparecida Martinelli Cezar, 57 years old, was stabbed to death this Thursday afternoon (9), in an apartment in the Cambuí neighborhood, in Campinas (SP). The victim was vice-president of the animal protection NGO 'Anjos de Patas' and was described by friends and family as a person committed to the cause. "She wasn't simply a vice president who sat on a couch and watched the animals. No. Maria Aparecida got her hands dirty," said Gabriela Souza, Maria's friend and president of the association. ? Click here to follow the g1 Campinas channel on WhatsApp "If she had to pick up an animal in Campinas, Sumaré, Piracicaba, anywhere, she would go. We would do a raffle to help the animals, we would look for donations", he added. "Her life was breathing rescue, breathing to help the dogs. She was dedicated to that 24 hours a day," said lawyer Yoshio Kuninari, another friend of the victim. Maria Aparecida and Gabriela, president of the NGO Anjos de Patas Personal collection Maria was married and left behind her husband, a 34-year-old son and her mother. Furthermore, she would have her birthday next Tuesday (14). According to Gabriela, the victim dreamed of purchasing a farm, so she could expand the NGO's work with animals. "We lost a friend, an animal protector who was the protector. She felt every pain in the animal and she always did everything for the animals", he concluded. Woman dies stabbed in apartment in Campinas Reproduction/EPTV Murder was allegedly motivated by debt According to an investigation by EPTV, a TV Globo affiliate, Maria Aparecida was allegedly killed by a family friend, while collecting a debt he owed to the victim. The suspect informed the Civil Police that the woman had attacked him with a knife, and that she retaliated with another knife after being injured in the arm. According to the Civil Police, the man informed the victim's husband about what had happened and then reported himself to the 1st Police District of Campinas, where he was arrested for qualified homicide. The knife used in the action and the two cell phones of those involved were seized for forensic examination. The investigation continues to determine the details of what happened. VIDEOS: Everything about Campinas and the region See more news about the region on the g1 Campinas page