Brazil: Alleged Serial Killer Jorlan Lopes da Silva Caught in Female Disguise

Brazilian authorities have apprehended a 33-year-old man, Jorlan Lopes da Silva, who is suspected of multiple killings across the country's northeastern region. He was reportedly caught while attempting to elude capture, dressed in women's attire and a wig, and carrying a young child who was not related to him.

The arrest of Lopes da Silva took place on Sunday, September 13, in Mulungu, Paraíba state. This successful apprehension resulted from a collaborative effort between the Civil Police, Military Police, and federal highway police intelligence units, as confirmed by Correio Braziliense. Officials noted that the toddler with him at the time of arrest was unharmed.

According to the Paraíba Civil Police, as reported by Correio Braziliense, Lopes da Silva is currently under investigation for numerous homicides in the Vale do Mamanguape area. He is also suspected of having connections to a dangerous criminal syndicate. Law enforcement officials have independently tied him to a minimum of 16 murder cases.

While being interrogated, Lopes da Silva reportedly confessed to taking approximately 80 lives over a span of two decades, with his first alleged killing occurring at the age of 13, a detail cited by PEOPLE. Subsequent to a custody hearing, a judge mandated his detention, leading to his transfer to the Alagoinha Public Jail, UOL confirmed.

However, the staggering figure of 80 deaths, as claimed by the suspect, is not yet officially recognized by the ongoing investigation. Delegate Douglas Garcia, who is overseeing the case, stated that police have already gathered evidence linking Jorlan to 16 homicide cases committed within roughly three months in the Vale do Mamanguape region. The investigation further indicates a history of violence extending back to his teenage years. Delegate Garcia revealed that Jorlan admitted to committing his initial homicide at 13. He has spent approximately five or six years incarcerated throughout his life, gaining freedom in May 2026. From the end of that month until his arrest on Sunday, the 13th, he has been confirmed as a suspect in 16 murder cases.

Among the cases being probed is the double homicide of two traders on August 1st in Rio Tinto, located on Paraíba's North Coast. The Civil Police believe Jorlan was involved in this crime alongside four other individuals. Investigators are also examining his potential role in the death of a young woman. Her body was discovered following information provided by the suspect himself, who reportedly directed officers to the burial site.