Reinaldo da Silva Melo was arrested on 17/9 in a remote jungle region of Brazil after 16 years on the run for the 12/12/2009 murder of Fabio Gomes da Silva.
Police believe the murder was an act of revenge. Reinaldo believed Fabio was involved in his father's death in 2004.
The murder took place in Paulo Ramos, north of Brasilia. Reinaldo fled into the jungle and remained at large for over a decade and a half.
During his time as a fugitive, Reinaldo married, had three children, and became a social media influencer known as the "Juquira King". Juquira is a fruit native to the Amazon, and Reinaldo gained popularity for his videos demonstrating his skill in harvesting and processing the fruit. He also shared humorous behind-the-scenes glimpses of his farm life and work.
Despite being wanted by law enforcement, Reinaldo amassed over 317,000 followers on Instagram and 283,000 fans on TikTok.
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Reinaldo da Silva Melo gained fame through his Juquira harvesting and farming videos. Photo: Jam press |
Reinaldo da Silva Melo gained fame through his Juquira harvesting and farming videos. Photo: Jam press
Police tracked Reinaldo to the rural area of Olho d'Agua das Cunhas in Maranhao state.
Reinaldo remains in custody. A statement on his social media accounts says his defense attorney is taking appropriate legal measures to "clarify everything".
Maranhao police have released few details about the case, stating only, "After legal procedures at the police station, the suspect was taken to a prison in the region".
Tue Anh (US Sun)
