Police find 5 new suspects in killings of Phillips, Pereira
Brazil’s Federal Police announced Sunday (Jun 19) they have identified eight people involved in the killings of indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and journalist Dom Phillips, with three arrested and five identified as having participated in the concealment of the bodies. The individuals arrested are Amarildo da Costa Pereira—known as Pelado—Jefferson da Silva Lima, and Oseney da Costa de Oliveira—known as Dos Santos. So far, only Amarildo has confessed to the crime.
Probes are still casting light on the circumstances, motives, and the identity of the people involved in the case, police said.
On Saturday, agents reported they have finished assessing the victims’ cause of death. Bruno Pereira was killed following two shots in the abdominal and thoracic region and one in the head. Dom Phillips was shot in the abdomen and thorax. Typical hunting ammunition was used.
The ammo used fires multiple small lead balls, causing a series of perforations. In the last few days, the police confirmed the identity of Phillips and Pereira in the remains sent to Brasilia for examination.
The bodies were found after the confession of fisherman Amarildo da Costa Pereira.
Dom Phillips, contributor for UK daily The Guardian, and Bruno Pereira, an official with Brazil's indigenous foundation FUNAI on a leave, were last seen on June 5, in the region of the indigenous reserve of Vale do Javari, the country's second largest, stretching over more than 8.5 million hectares. They were on their way from the riverside community of São Rafael to the town of Atalaia do Norte, in Amazonas state, when they disappeared without a trace.
