# Brazil murder investigations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-murder-investigations
> Updated: 2026-08-02T22:04:13.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026, police discovered the body of 34‑year‑old Jonatan Rafael de Souza Leopoldino near Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso. He and another man had been seized by a criminal faction, taken to a remote forest area and shot. Jonatan was placed in a four‑metre‑deep pit, which authorities uncovered the next morning. The second victim survived a head wound, escaped the pit and sought help, while motives and suspects remain unknown.

A few days later, on 2 August 2026, the body of 30‑year‑old lawyer Lucas Silva Lopes was found nude on a dirt road in the industrial district of Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, near a completely burned vehicle. Lopes, who had cerebral palsy and a background in human‑rights law, had been reported missing the day before. Police are investigating the homicide and any link to the burned car. Both cases are under active investigation, highlighting separate violent deaths in Brazil.

These incidents illustrate ongoing challenges for Brazilian authorities in addressing isolated, high‑profile murders across different regions.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-02: Lawyer Lucas Silva Lopes found dead on Mogi Mirim road in Brazil

Lawyer Lucas Silva Lopes, a 30‑year‑old with a disability, was found dead with signs of violence on a Mogi Mirim road, near a burned car; police are investigating the homicide.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lawyer-lucas-silva-lopes-found-dead-on-mogi-mirim-road-in-brazil

### 2026-07-29: Lucas do Rio Verde murder after kidnapping by criminal gang

A 34‑year‑old São Paulo man was kidnapped, shot and found dead in a forest pit near Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, after a criminal gang assault; a second victim survived.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lucas-do-rio-verde-murder-after-kidnapping-by-criminal-gang

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Cite as: Brazil murder investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-murder-investigations