Dyonathan Celestrino (born 1992), known as The Cross Maniac (Portuguese: Maníaco da Cruz), is a Brazilian serial killer who committed three ritualistic murders in Rio Brilhante from July to October 2008, when he was still a teenager. Due to the high probability of him posing a future danger to society, he remains incarcerated.
Dyonathan Celestrino | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992 (age 31–32) |
| Other names | "The Cross Maniac" "Cacharo do Inferno 666" |
| Conviction(s) | Murder x3 |
| Criminal penalty | 3 years |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3 |
Span of crimes | July 2 – October 3, 2008 |
| Country | Brazil |
| State(s) | Mato Grosso do Sul |
Date apprehended | October 9, 2008 |
| Imprisoned at | Campo Grande Penal Institution, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul |
Murders edit
In 2008, Celestrino, a religious goth, decided to kill those whom he perceived as "not following God's precepts."[1] He would pick his victims at random and ask them various sexually-related questions, and if he considered them impure, he would proceed to kill them. After murdering his respective victim, Celestrino would undress them, spread their arms and cross the legs at ankle height to resemble a cross.[2]
Victims edit
Catalino Gardena, 33, killed on July 2 - a bricklayer and neighbor of Celestrino. He later claimed that Gardena "deserved to die" because he was an alcoholic and a homosexual.
Letícia Neves de Oliveira, 22, killed on August 24 - a lesbian gas station attendant. Found in a grave in a cemetery.[1]
Gleice Kelly da Silva, 13, killed on October 3 - a drug user. Found half-naked at a construction site, her killer had left a handwritten note next to the body stating "dead man does not respond to messages".[2]
Investigation edit
After the murder of Da Silva, a special unit was formed to investigate her and the two previous murders, which were linked via a similar modus operandi. As part of the investigation procedures, officers interviewed Celestrino as he was Gardena's neighbor, but was only arrested on October 9, after a comment made on Da Silva's Orkut account, posted by a user named 'Cachorro do Inferno 666' (Dog of Hell 666), was linked back to him. They then obtained a search warrant for his house, where they found a knife, personal items belonging to De Oliveira and Da Silva and a piece of paper with the names of the victims and the date of the murders.
In the aftermath of his arrest, investigator Maria de Lourdes Souza Cano issued a press statement commending her colleagues' work effort in capturing the criminal. She also claimed that Celestrino had apparently planned to commit a fourth murder and seemingly aimed to surpass Francisco de Assis Pereira in notoriety.[2]
Trial and imprisonment edit
Soon after his arrest, Celestrino was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The results from the evaluation concluded that he had an antisocial personality disorder and chronic psychopathy, due to which he was prescribed medication.[2] He was then transferred to the Campo Grande Penal Institution, where he soon gained further notoriety for assaulting prison guards and having occasional outbursts.[3]
Under Brazilian law, Celestrino was scheduled to be released in 2013 at the age of 21, but as he was deemed incapable of living a normal life, his sentence was extended indefinitely.[1] While awaiting the final decision in his case, Celestrino managed to escape prison and flee to Horqueta, Paraguay on March 3, but was arrested only a month later on April 27 after a person residing at the same hotel recognized him.[4]
As of August 2022, Celestrino remains incarcerated at the Campo Grande Penal Institution. He is described as a good inmate, is currently studying for a degree in environmental resource management and receives regular visits from family members.[3] He has attempted to appeal various convictions from various charges committed in prison, most of which have been unsuccessful.[5]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Isabela Sanchez (March 11, 2019). "Juíza diz que presídio ainda é melhor lugar para "Maníaco da Cruz"" [Judge says prison is still the best place for the 'Cross Maniac']. Campo Grande News (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Mariana Moreira (July 27, 2022). "Caso de Maníaco da Cruz desafia leis penitenciárias há 9 anos" [Cross Maniac case defies penitentiary laws for 9 years]. Correio do Estado (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022.
- ^ a b Rafael Oliveira (July 10, 2022). "Não entregou TCC, é comportado e recebe visita: saiba como é a vida do 'Maníaco da Cruz', no Instituto Penal há 9 anos" [Didn't do TCC, behaves well and receives visitors: learn about the life of the 'Cross Maniac', at the Penal Institution for 9 years]. Caçula FM 96.9 (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022.
- ^ "AGEPEN: SURTO DE MANÍACO DA CRUZ REFORÇA NECESSIDADE DE TRANSFERÊNCIA" [AGEPEN: OUTBREAK OF THE CROSS MANIAC REINFORCES NEED FOR TRANSFER]. Cidade FM (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022.
- ^ Silvia Frias (February 3, 2021). "Preso sem prazo para ser solto, Maníaco da Cruz recorre de condenação de 15 dias" [Detained with no deadline to be released, Cross Maniac appeals 15-day conviction]. Campo Grande News (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022.