http://seaqwa.com:80/blogs/qnews/archive/2008/12/10/report-retired-cop-suspected-as-serial-killer-of-13-gay-men-in-brazil.aspx
Wednesday, December 10 Report: Retired cop suspected as serial killer of 13 gay men in Brazil Source: O Globo, ABC News (Australia), Associated Press, Made In Brazil A retired sergeant from Brazil's military police may be linked to the murders of 13 men who were killed at a gay cruising spot at a park in Carapicuíba in greater Sao Paulo, according to an uncorroborated report from Brazil's O Globo newspaper. Police announced Monday that a suspected serial killer might be on the loose. O Globo reported a day later that the suspect had been identified. According to Associated Press, Paulo Fernando Fortunato, lead investigator for the case, told the O Globo newspaper Monday that 13 gay men had been killed at Parque dos Paturis between February 2007 and August 2008. The 13 murders had not been linked previously, but a team of 15 detectives began re-examining them in light of the serial killer theory, Australia's ABC News reports. Fortunato said Monday that he went public with the investigation to help warn people of the danger, according to AP. Undercover agents are now patrolling the park where the murders took place. The sergeant is suspected of killing a transvestite at a hotel in Osasco, São Paulo, in October, according to Made In Brazil's summary of O Globo's report. The caliber of the gun used to kill the transvestite matches the caliber of the gun used to kill the last victim found at the park in Carapicuíba in August. The sergeant was the last person seen at the hotel with the transvestite, and is reported to hang out at Parque dos Paturis, where the 13 men were murdered, according to O Globo and Made In Brazil. Police have dubbed the possible killer the "Rainbow Maniac" as a reference to the multicolored gay and lesbian logo, ABC News reports. Although the Fortunato said Monday that investigators were not certain that only one person is responsible for the deaths, there are marked similarities in each case, according to ABC News. All of the victims were killed at the same gay meeting place in Paturo Park. All of the victims were men, most aged between 20 and 40, according to ABC News. All the killings took place at night. All of the victims were found with their pants down, according to Made In Brazil blog. All but one of the victims was shot either in the head or the neck. Ballistics tests are underway to see if the same gun was used in each case, according to ABC News. Meanwhile, O Globo reports that the family of one of the men killed at the park is disputing the theory of the crime put forward by police. Adílson Jose Pereira, whose body was found in the park July 8, 2007, was the second victim to be killed there. His widow insisted that the 58-year-old married father of six children with 18 grandchildren would never be involved with homosexuals, according to O Globo. His body was found next to his car near the park, but his widow explained that he often parked it there. "I thought he was going to a bar nearby. He played guitar there from time to time, and parked the car in park," said Maria Odília Alves Pereira. A friend of the Pereira's, who did not want to be identified, told O Globo he was "womanizer". Source: Police hunt suspected serial killer in Brazil | ABC News (Australia) Police hunt suspected serial killer in Brazil | Associated Press Sargento reformado da PM é suspeito de mortes de homossexuais em parque da Grande SP | O Globo Police Looking For Suspect Of Killing 13 Gay Men | Made In Brazil
