Brazil: Dom Phillips' Cause of Death Revealed; 8 Suspects in Murder Identified

The cause of death of Dom Phillips, the British journalist who went missing alongside indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, was identified by the authorities days after their remains were discovered.

According to Brazil's police, the two sustained gunshot wounds. Reuters reported that Pereira was shot in the head and twice in his abdomen by hunting ammunition, while Phillips suffered a gunshot wound in his torso.

Phillip's remains were identified last Friday, while Pereira's remains were identified on Saturday.

Eight Suspects Linked to Dom Phillips Murder

Brazil's police had already linked at least eight suspects to Dom Phillips' murder in the Amazon rainforest. According to BBC, three of said suspects were already under the custody of Brazil's law enforcement.

Jeferson da Silva Lima, also known as Pelado da Dinha, turned himself in on Saturday after going on the run. Sa Silva Lima surrendered himself in a police station in Atalaia do Norte in the Javari Valley. They said it is a remote area bordering Peru and Colombia.

"The detainee will be questioned and referred to a custody hearing," police said in a statement.

The two suspects who were also in the custody of Brazil's police were known to be Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira and Oseney da Costa de Oliveira. The two suspects are brothers, but Oseney remains to deny any involvement in Phillips' murder.

Brazil's police noted that the remaining five suspects helped hide the bodies of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira. The suspects were identified by law enforcement. However, officials have not announced their names or released other details about the new suspects.

Police said the suspects in the killing of the British journalist acted alone. However, the local indigenous group Univaja noted that they repeatedly told officials about a criminal organization operating in the Javari Valley.

Deaths of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira in Brazil's Amazon

Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira were last seen on June 5 on their boat in a river near the entrance of Javari Valley Indigenous territory in Brazil.

One of the suspects in custody, Amarildo, reportedly confessed to burying their remains and led the police to a spot deep in Brazil's Amazon where their remains were found.

Phillips' wife, Alessandra Sampaio, said the discovery of the duo's bodies "puts an end to the anguish" of not having any idea about the whereabouts of the British journalist and the Indigenous expert.

Dom Phillips was a freelance reporter who had written for several news outlets, including Guardian and the Washington Post.

On the other hand, Bruno Pereira was a former head of isolated and recently contacted tribes at the Funai, which is Brazil's federal indigenous affairs agency.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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