Brent Sikkema: Suspected American Art Dealer's Killer Arrested in Brazil
Police in Brazil have arrested a man in connection with the killing of Brent Sikkema, the co-owner of a prominent gallery in Manhattan, as reported on Thursday. VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images

The life of 75-year-old art dealer Brent Sikkema came to a tragic end on Monday when he was discovered dead in his Rio de Janeiro, Brazil apartment, having suffered multiple stab wounds.

The suspect, identified as Alejandro Triana Trevez, was apprehended at a petrol station in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais, according to BBC.

Authorities allege that Trevez, reportedly a Cuban national according to local media, stole $3,000 from Brent Sikkema's home.

The suspect had traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, before the killing and returned there afterward, attempting to flee.

Law enforcement successfully caught the alleged Bent Sikkema killer between the cities of Uberaba and Uberlandia on Thursday, leading to his arrest.

A 30-day prison warrant has been issued against Trevez, who police believe was captured on security camera footage outside Brent Sikkema's residence around the time of the murder.

Authorities, addressing the media at a press conference, indicated that the assumption is that Trevez was acquainted with Sikkema.

They characterized the killing as a "premeditated and cruel action," revealing that the suspect had meticulously monitored Sikkema for several hours, choosing the opportune moment to enter his residence where he remained for 15 minutes.

Sequence of Events Unraveled through Surveillance Footage

Reports reveal that Trevez, Bent Sikkema killer, utilizing a car borrowed from a friend in São Paulo, had been in Rio de Janeiro during the tragic incident, per ARTNews.

The car was later found to contain money stolen from Brent Sikkema and a gold chain taken from the victim.

Trevez allegedly used some of the stolen money to purchase another vehicle upon his return to São Paulo.

Surveillance timestamps unveiled a detailed sequence of events.

The borrowed car was seen parked outside Sikkema's residence in Rio around 2:20 PM on Saturday, with a flash of light observed in the back seat during a two-and-a-half-hour period.

Footage captured Sikkema entering his home at 4:36 PM, marking the last time he was seen alive.

The suspected Brent Sikkema killer was observed getting out of the car for the first time at 10:42 PM, seemingly cautious of security cameras.

He spent hours inside the vehicle, only leaving at 3:43 AM on Sunday to enter Sikkema's home for 14 minutes.

The suspect then left the property, removed a pair of gloves, and returned to the car.

Brent Sikkema's Personal Struggles and Possible Motive to His Killing

Brent Sikkema's recent discussions with friends unveiled personal struggles, with claims that he felt secure enough in Rio to leave his door unlocked, The Daily Beast noted.

The art dealer had expressed distress over his ex-partner, a Cuban named Danny, who allegedly refused an amicable divorce and demanded $6 million along with significant spousal support.

Friends speculated that the multimillion-dollar dispute might have been the "real trigger" for the brutal killing.

Sikkema's friends recounted the ex-partner, Danny, obtaining a protective order preventing Sikkema from seeing their 12-year-old son, Lucas.

Despite notification of Sikkema's death, Danny will reportedly not be traveling to Brazil.

In addition to being a renowned art dealer who co-created the Chelsea contemporary art gallery, now known as Sikkema Jenkins and Co., Brent Sikkema represented internationally acclaimed artists such as Jeffrey Gibson, Kara Walker, and Vik Muniz.

The art community mourns the loss of a figure who played a significant role in shaping the art landscape for several decades.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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