June 23, 2022

09:06

Priscilla Peixoto – Amazon Agency

MANAUS – Forensic examinations confirm that the “human remains” found buried in an area of difficult access, in Atalaia do Norte, (1,136 kilometers away from Manaus) are, in fact, of the indigenist Bruno de Araújo Pereira and the journalist Dominic Mark Phillips. The information was released in a press release, this Wednesday, 22, by the Crisis Committee coordinated by the Federal Police of Amazonas.

According to the forensic genetics expertise, the biological samples indicated the presence of two distinct genetic profiles. “The results found are in line with the analysis of Forensic Odontology, Forensic Anthropology, and Papiloscopy, which indicated that they are the ‘remains’ of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira”, says the note.

According to the document, the investigations are concluded, however, the work of the experts from the National Institute of Criminalistics should continue. The Federal Police also highlighted that the bodies of the victims will be delivered to their families this Thursday, 23rd.

“The work of the experts (…) will continue over the next few days, focused on the analysis of various traces of the case. Finally, the Federal Police informs that the bodies of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira
will be handed over to their families tomorrow, June 23rd, and are expected to take off from Brasília airport at 2 PM”, the text concludes.

On June 15, the materials found in the region of Atalaia do Norte were sent to Tabatinga, in Amazonas. From there, the “human remains” were sent for expert analysis in Brasilia on Thursday, June 16.

According to the superintendent of the Federal Police, Eduardo Fontes, it was only possible to find the exact location where the “human remains” were, because of the confession of Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, known as “Pelado”, then considered one of the main suspects in the case.

“We wouldn’t have been able to get to that place if we didn’t have the confession. It took more than 25 minutes of walking to go into the woods”, the police chief said at a press conference on the night of June 15.

Bruno and Dom were shot and had their bodies dismembered and burned. The pair was sailing on the Itaquaí river, near the town of Atalaia do Norte, when they caught the brothers Osoney and Amarildo da Costa fishing for pirarucu in an illegal fishing region. After being surrendered and murdered, the journalist and the indigenist, who were photographing the location, were buried in a ditch.

Read the note in full: