Police Recover Dante Michelini’s Head After Suspect Confesses to Revenge Killing

Overview

• Police say the case is solved after the suspect, identified by local media as Willian Santos Manzoli, confessed during questioning following his Jan. 28 arrest on another matter.
• He led authorities to a Guarapari channel where divers recovered Michelini’s head about four meters deep and roughly five meters from the bank.
• Investigators report the victim was decapitated while still alive, describing acts comparable to torture.
• The killing is dated to Jan. 19–20 and is attributed to revenge after Michelini expelled the man who had been sleeping on the property without permission.
• Authorities state the homicide has no relation to the 1973 Araceli case, in which Michelini had been accused decades ago and later acquitted.