Maceió serial killer confesses to crime days before innocent suspect goes to jury trial

Albino Santos de Lima , investigated by the Civil Police of Alagoas for 18 homicides and 6 attempted homicides , confessed to having killed Genilda Maria da Conceição , 75 years old. The crime took place in 2019, in Chã da Jaqueira, in Maceió . At the time, Antônio Guilherme dos Santos had been arrested and a jury trial was scheduled for March of this year. With Albino's confession, the case may be reviewed.

The elderly woman was shot dead in front of her 10-year-old grandson. When the crime took place, the boy had recognized Antônio as the shooter. Initially, the jury trial was scheduled to take place on February 18 of this year, but it was postponed and rescheduled for March 6.

However, after Albino's cell phone was seized in September last year, the victim's full name and the date he committed the murder were found and he later confessed to the crime.

A ballistics test carried out by the Scientific Police also confirmed the fact. According to information from O Globo, this Tuesday, the 25th, the Electronic Official Gazette of Alagoas reported that "Albino Santos de Lima would be the author of the crime and that the evidence collected rules out the authorship of Antônio Guilherme dos Santos".

"In view of the facts that have been ascertained, I order the immediate referral of the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that, within five days, it can state its position regarding any subsequent loss of evidence regarding the indications of authorship and the possible possibility of dismissing the defendant," the publication says. "Regardless of the previous measure, I order the secretariat to remove the case from the agenda, canceling all summonses," the text says.

Antônio awaits the trial in freedom.

More than 10 victims

At a press conference on Tuesday, the 25th, detectives Tacyane Ribeiro and Gilson Rêgo stated that Albino Santos de Lima is being investigated for at least 18 homicides, in addition to six more attempted murders. He confessed to having killed:

• Genilda Maria da Conceição, on February 6, 2019;
• Alysson Santos Silva (October 20, 2019));
• Marcelo Lopes dos Santos (November 29, 2019);
• José Cicero Bernardo da Silva (December 8, 2019);
• Maria Vânia da Silva Nunes (December 23, 2019);
• João Santos Mateus (December 23, 2019);
• Antonio de Oliveira Melo Neto (December 17, 2020)
• Maria Claudiana da Silva (December 17, 2020).

According to ballistics tests carried out by experts, the bullets found in the victims' bodies confirmed that they were fired by the same weapon, a .38 caliber revolver. The accused claims to have thrown the weapon into a river.

The criminal used his cell phone to record and plan his crimes, according to the investigation. In the files, he had two specific directories: one called 'hated Instagram' and another, 'special deaths', where he documented the cases. He also used to take photos on the graves of his victims, buried in public cemeteries in Maceió. The police believe that Albino is one of the biggest serial killers in Brazil.