Brazilian police say a suspect has confessed to shooting missing British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.
Detective Eduardo Fontes said a man named Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira led investigators to a site where human remains were excavated. He said the police would work with Interpol to confirm the identity of the bodies.
Mr Phillips, 57, and Mr Pereira, 41, disappeared in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest on June 5. Two suspected brothers, Amarildo and Oceni da Costa de Oliveira have been arrested in connection with the case.
Detective Fontes told reporters that the “first suspect” – Amarildo – “detailed the crime that had been committed and indicated the location where he buried the bodies”. His brother denies any involvement.
Police said they expected more arrests and were investigating the cause of the killings.
Mr Phillips’ wife, Alessandra Sampaio, said in a statement: “While we are still awaiting definitive confirmation, this tragic outcome ends the agony of not knowing Dom and Bruno’s whereabouts. Now we can bring them home. And can say goodbye with love.
Today, we also begin our quest for justice. I hope that the investigations exhaust all possibilities and bring definitive answers on all relevant details as soon as possible.”
She expressed her thanks to everyone involved in the search for her husband and Mr Pereira, “especially the indigenous peoples and Univaja”.
Univaja, the region’s indigenous association, was the first to alert authorities when the pair went missing.
