João Ferreira da Silva stepped out of Ferrugem Penitentiary in the early morning hours on a Wednesday. By 6:50 am, he was dead on the pavement outside a hotel on Colonizer Ênio Pipino street, in the Santa Mônica neighborhood of Sinop, Brazil. Two masked men had been waiting for him.

He had served time for one of the most disturbing crimes in Sinop's recent history — the rape and murder of nine-year-old Bruno Aparecido dos Santos. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison, plus additional time for related sexual crimes. His parole came with a condition: he had to return to prison each night. He never got the chance.

How Bruno Was Found

Bruno disappeared in October 2005. João was a bricklayer who used his access to construction sites to get close to the boy. When police searched the site where he worked, they found Bruno's belongings — including the marbles Bruno had been playing with. That detail, small and specific, was what broke the case open.

João confessed and led investigators to the burial site. Bruno's body was found in a shallow grave roughly one meter deep, hands tied, with no clothes on. His clothes had been removed and carefully placed in a bag beside the grave.

The case mobilized the city in a way few crimes had. Around 500 people attempted to storm the police station to reach João after his arrest. He was transferred to Cuiabá for his own safety, then escaped — only to be recaptured hours later.

What Happened the Morning of His Release

Civil Police confirmed that João walked into the outdoor area of the hotel on Colonizer Ênio Pipino street when two masked men approached him. According to investigators, one of the men paused to verify something — most likely confirming João's identity — before firing multiple shots. At least three shell casings were recovered at the scene.

The deliberate nature of the shooting — the masks, the confirmation of identity before firing, the early morning timing that coincided with his first hours of freedom — pointed to a targeted execution. Police have not released any formal lines of investigation or confirmed any connection between João's criminal past and the attack.

A Case That Never Fully Closed

João had been sentenced to 42 years in 2008. His parole meant he was not fully free — he was required to return to prison each night. The killing happened before he could complete even one day outside. The two masked men have not been publicly identified, and the investigation into his death remains open.