Police Say Suspects in Mato Grosso do Sul Priest Killing Planned to Sell Car in Paraguay

Overview

• Leanderson de Oliveira Junior, 18, confessed and was booked on robbery resulting in death, concealment of a corpse, procedural fraud and qualified theft, with his arrest converted to preventive detention.
• João Victor Martins Vieira, 18, is accused of helping clean the scene to hinder forensics, hiding the body and stealing items, and he is also in preventive detention.
• A 17-year-old admitted striking the victim and using a knife after realizing he was still breathing, while two girls aged 16 and 17 were detained for aiding in cleanup and theft and sent to UNEI.
• Investigators say the priest was killed at home on Friday with hammer blows to the head and stab wounds to the neck and chest, and his body was found wrapped in a carpet in a wooded area.
• Police recovered the Jeep Renegade and numerous stolen belongings, and a press briefing and custody hearings are set for Monday as the latrocínio case advances.