# João Pessoa hotel homicide investigation and sentencing > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/joo-pessoa-hotel-homicide-investigation-and-sentencing > Updated: 2026-09-02T18:58:44.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. An investigation into the July homicide of 33-year-old Washington Rodrigo at a hotel in the Manaíra neighborhood of João Pessoa has progressed through judicial proceedings. Initial reports indicated that an adolescent suspect used an airsoft pistol to intimidate the victim and allegedly strangled him with a hairdryer cord to prevent the recording of an intimate encounter. Forensic examinations by the Medical Legal Institute (IML) confirmed the cause of death as mechanical asphyxia and identified signs of torture. Following a judicial hearing, a court in Paraíba sentenced the adolescent to up to three years of socio-educational detention. The judge ruled the act was analogous to qualified homicide, citing futile motives and cruel methods. The investigation revealed the victim and suspect met via a dating application. The suspect, who had 17 prior records of infractions in Rio Grande do Norte, surrendered to police in Caicó. The defense has indicated plans to appeal the sentence. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: Paraíba court sentences adolescent to detention for hotel homicide A Paraíba court sentenced an adolescent to up to three years of detention for the murder of a man in a João Pessoa hotel using a hair dryer cord. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/paraba-court-sentences-adolescent-to-detention-for-hotel-homicide ### 2026-08-17: João Pessoa adolescent undergoes first hearing in hotel homicide case An adolescent suspect participated in his first remote hearing for the murder of Washington Rodrigo in a João Pessoa hotel. The suspect allegedly killed the victim to prevent the exposure of his sexual identity 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/joo-pessoa-human-head-found-in-colinas-do-sul-community --- Cite as: João Pessoa hotel homicide investigation and sentencing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/joo-pessoa-hotel-homicide-investigation-and-sentencing