A new discovery in the disappearance in the Amazon of British journalist Dom Philipps and Brazilian anthropologist Bruno Pereira could well mark the epilogue of this tragic affair. One of the suspects indeed led the police to human remains in a remote area of the jungle.
Police have found human remains at the site where Brazilian authorities were excavating for British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous peoples expert Bruno Pereira, investigators said Wednesday (June 15th).
\ud83d\udd34 Brazil | Los restos del corresponsal inglés Dom Phillips y el indigenista brasileño Bruno Pereira, desaparecidos desde el 5 de junio, fueron hallados en la selva amazonica, según anunció el comisario Eduardo Fontes during a conference of prensa
\ud83d\udcf7 AFP pic.twitter.com/mNjLricyog
— Agencia Telam (@AgenciaTelam) June 16, 2022
In this case, which has been shaking Brazil for several days, there has been a lot of contradictory information. While this Monday, June 13, the journalist’s family indicated that they had been contacted by the Brazilian Embassy in London to inform them that two bodies had been found tied to a tree, other sources denied the discovery.
The suspect opposed to anthropologist Bruno Pereira
But this Wednesday, June 15, the remains found by the Brazilian police could well mark the epilogue of this dark case of disappearance.
The suspect, Amarildo da Costa, a fisherman who had opposed Bruno Pereira because of his efforts to combat illegal fishing on territories home to indigenous peoples, led police to a site where the remains were discovered, Inspector Eduardo Fontes told a news conference.
Freelance journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous peoples scholar Bruno Pereira disappeared earlier this month in a remote region of the Amazon jungle, located on the border between Brazil, Peru and Colombia. The journalist was working on a book that would have chronicled their journey.
More arrests to come?
This region, home to the largest number of uncontacted indigenous populations in the world, has attracted cocaine traffickers, as well as loggers, miners and illegal hunters due to its isolation and difficult access.
Amarildo da Costa’s brother, Oseney da Costa, was arrested on Tuesday but he denies any involvement in the crime, despite evidence to the contrary. Police are also investigating the involvement of a third person and have announced further arrests may still be made..
