SAO PAULO — In São Paulo, authorities confirmed that a man accused of killing 16 people had been residing in forested areas to evade capture and was locally referred to as “Mosquito” due to his slight physique, according to the investigator overseeing his arrest.
Douglas Garcia, who headed the two‑day manhunt that culminated in the capture of 33‑year‑old Jorlan Lopes da Silva on September 13, told The Associated Press that the suspect previously concealed himself in dense vegetation within makeshift camps. The murders attributed to da Silva occurred over the past three months in the remote Mulungu area of Paraíba, Brazil’s northeastern state.
“That enabled him to remain at large for years,” Garcia explained. “Because Jorlan spent most of his time in the woods, locating him and connecting him to seemingly unrelated crimes proved challenging.”
Garcia noted that police identified the connection to additional offenses after da Silva killed an 18‑year‑old in a public square. Although the killer maintains that he only targets criminals, the evidence gathered to date contradicts that claim.
Garcia added that da Silva is supplying information indicating he has committed additional, uncharged crimes, but he declined to elaborate further because ongoing investigations and reopened cases restrict disclosure.
The investigator emphasized that victim identities and details surrounding their deaths are being kept confidential to allow the prosecution to proceed.
Da Silva was apprehended dressed in a black dress with white stripes, a wig, and painted nails, while carrying a baby whom authorities confirmed was unrelated to him; no further details were provided.
“He is a markedly different individual,” Garcia said. “He claimed to have committed his first killing at age 13. We captured him after he struggled to reach his forest tent, prompting him to adopt the disguise, seize an unrelated infant, and ultimately be arrested,” he added.
Police indicated that da Silva had previously been associated with a criminal gang responsible for dozens of regional killings. He denied any affiliation with local gangs and told investigators that he was engaged in a “personal war.”
Mulungu, the site of the recent killings, is situated 2,500 km (1,553 mi) north of Rio de Janeiro.