Serial killer dressed as a woman betrayed by his tattoo: he confesses to 80 murders

São Paulo – The hunt for serial killer Jorlan Lopes da Silva, suspected of at least 16 murders in the last three months, is over. After his capture, he confessed to killing 80 people. He allegedly committed his first crime at age 13.

After a nearly 48-hour manhunt, officers apprehended da Silva, 33, who attempted to escape by dressing as a woman, wearing a long, black wig, a dark dress, sandals, and sunglasses. He also had a two-year-old girl with him, which he used to divert suspicion as to his true identity.

However, it was his disguise that gave him away: the low-cut dress revealed a large tattoo on his chest, which helped the police in Mulungu, a small agricultural town in the state of Paraiba, in the northeastern region of Brazil.

Officers hunted him through the local wooded areas, which served as perfect hiding places after committing the murders. The turning point came about 20 days ago: a police operation in Rio Tinto led to a firefight between law enforcement and Jorlan, along with other suspects. He managed to escape at the time, but a manhunt was launched immediately.

After fleeing, Jorlan found refuge in a community in Cabadelo, in the Joao Pessoa metropolitan area, a place with ties to a Rio-based criminal organization that is also expanding into Paraiba. This fact suggests his recent affiliation with this criminal group. And after the building where he was staying was identified, he was eventually captured.

During questioning, Jorlan da Silva claimed to have killed 80 people, a story that prompted investigators to subject him to a psychiatric evaluation. His version, however, is being taken very seriously: "This is a very significant figure. We believe that, even if the exact number isn't exactly that, it's very close," said local police chief Douglas Garcia.

According to local press, Jorlan da Silva had a serious criminal record since adolescence. After his first murder at age 13, he spent several prison terms, totaling approximately six years. After serving his last sentence, he was released in May 2026.

He is currently under formal investigation only for the murder of two shopkeepers in August, a crime he committed with four other people. He is also implicated in the death of a young man, whose body was found after he himself told the police where he was. A horror film reconstructed through his confession and cross-referenced with crimes that have occurred in the area over the past 20 years.