Paulo Sérgio Guimarães da Silva (born 1971), known as The Cassino Maniac, is a Brazilian serial killer who murdered seven people at Praia do Cassino between 1998 and 1999. Due to the severity of his crimes, he was sentenced to 180 years imprisonment, and is one of the prisoners with the highest sentences in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Paulo Sérgio Guimarães da Silva | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 (age 52–53) |
| Other names | "The Cassino Maniac" "Titica" |
| Conviction(s) | Murder x7 Attempted murder x3 Rape x1 Attempted rape x2 Robbery x3 |
| Criminal penalty | 184 years imprisonment and 10 months |
| Details | |
| Victims | 7 |
Span of crimes | 1998–1999 |
| Country | Brazil |
| State(s) | Rio Grande do Sul |
Date apprehended | May 1999 |
Biography edit
Paulo Sérgio, a fisherman, was initially imprisoned on an attempted murder charge.[1] In late November 1998, after spending nine years in prison, he was released from the Rio Grande State Penitentiary.[2]
Crimes edit
Although Guimarães already had a criminal record, it was the murders between December 1998 and March 1999 that led him to infamy. During the summer season, he attacked couples who were making out in their cars on the edge of Praia do Cassino.[3][2]
The first homicides occurred in December, when Paulo killed Felipe Santos, 19, and Bárbara da Silva, 22. The bodies of both, shot dead, were found on December 12 next to the car, parked near the sea. In early March 1999, he killed Anamaria Soares, 31, and Márcio Olinto, 30, who were found on the 10th at Praia do Totó, in Pelotas.[4]
That same month, he attacked Petrick de Almeida, 18, and Brenda Graebin, 14, at Praia do Cassino. Petrick died on the spot, while Brenda, who would become the sole survivor of his killing spree, was crippled.[4] Brenda claimed that she was raped, and only survived while pretending to be dead.[5] A few days later, in the early hours of March 26, Paulo Sérgio killed Silvio Ibias, 36, and Adriana Simões, 28.
After committing the murders, Guimarães reported to the police and local residents who were arriving at the scene, waiting to hear what they would say.[6]
Arrest and conviction edit
During the course of the investigations, thirteen people were arrested.[4] In May 1999, Paulo Sérgio confessed to the murders of seven people, as well several other attempted murders and assaults in Rio Grande and Pelotas.[2] Guimarães claimed that he had been "inspired by" Francisco de Assis Pereira, the Park Maniac, and that he was aiming to surpass his in victim count.[7][5] According to Diário do Grande ABC, he was the "greatest serial killer the state's history" at the time of his arrest.[8]
In February 2002, Guimarães was sentenced to 171 years, 4 months and 20 days imprisonment for the commission of 14 crimes (7 homicides, one attempted murder, 3 robberies, 2 attempted robberies and one rape). The trial lasted two days and the jurors were unanimous in convicting him.[3] The sentence was later extended to 184 years and 10 months in prison.[9]
In 2007, Paulo requested that he be transferred from the Charquedas High Security Penitentiary, where he had been imprisoned since his initial conviction, to the Rio Grande State Penitentiary. The court, however, dismissed the request, judging that the transfer to the city where the crimes had been committed could lead to "social upheaval".[6][10]
According to a survey conducted by Pioneiro in 2018, Guimarães was the eighth prisoner with the largest sentence in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Police identify Praia do Cassino Maniac Cassino" (in Portuguese). Diário do Grande ABC. April 30, 1999. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c Léo Gerchmann (May 1, 1999). "Suspect confesses to having killed 7 in RS" (in Portuguese). Folha de S. Paulo. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "Fisherman from Rio Grande do Sul is convicted of 14 crimes" (in Portuguese). Agência Brasil. February 28, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c Milano, Paula (2005). "The "Titica" case". Revista PJ: BR (in Portuguese). ISSN 1806-2776.
- ^ a b Natalina, Maria (2010). "INVESTIGATION AND MEDIA: A case study" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Fundação João Pinheiro.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ a b "MURDERER FOLLOWS COLLECTED TO PASC" (in Portuguese). Ministério Público do Rio Grande do Sul. September 17, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Hygino Vasconcellos e Leticia Mendes (April 27, 2018). "Who are the prisoners with the highest convictions in RS" (in Portuguese). Pioneiro. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Cassino Maniac confesses two more deaths" (in Portuguese). Diário do Grande ABC. May 5, 1999. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Survivor of the attacks of the "Praia do Cassino Maniac" made an appeal today" (in Portuguese). Edson Costa. February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "The Cassino Maniac" (in Portuguese). Jornal Hoje. February 26, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2020.