Suspected serial killer arrested while disguised as a woman in Brazil

Brazilian authorities arrested 33-year-old Jorlan Alves da Silva on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in the municipality of Mulungu, Paraíba state, following a 30-hour manhunt in a forest area. The suspect, alleged to be a member of a violent criminal organization, was apprehended while attempting to evade capture by dressing as a woman, wearing a long black wig, a striped dress, and sandals.

While police initially sought him in connection with at least 16 homicides committed since May, the suspect reportedly confessed to 11 of those killings during interrogation. Additionally, he claimed to have participated in approximately 80 other murders throughout his life, though authorities state these claims remain unverified and are currently under investigation. At the time of his arrest, Silva was carrying a two-year-old child; police are now working to determine the child’s identity and their relationship to the suspect.

The suspect had previously escaped a police encounter weeks earlier during an armed confrontation. Authorities continue to investigate the extent of his criminal involvement and the circumstances surrounding the child found in his possession.