Roberto Wagner Fernandes
Brazilian Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Miami, Florida
TIME PERIOD
2000-2001
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Roberto Wagner Fernandes, a Brazilian serial killer and rapist, is linked posthumously to the murders of three prostitutes in Miami, Florida, occurring between 2000 and 2001. Fernandes, born on April 26, 1965, in Londrina, Brazil, was previously acquitted for the 1996 murder of his wife, Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes, after a domestic dispute escalated to gunfire. He died in a plane crash in Paraguay on December 13, 2005, before he could be apprehended for the Miami murders, which investigators believe may be part of a larger pattern of violence. Current investigations suggest he could be responsible for additional unsolved murders in both the United States and Brazil, although no formal charges were ever brought against him due to his death.
Roberto Wagner Fernandes is believed to have been involved in other unsolved murders beyond the three confirmed cases in Miami, as investigators suspect he may have had a broader pattern of violence. Some speculate that his earlier acquittal for the murder of his wife indicates a possible history of domestic violence that could have escalated into his later crimes. Additionally, theories suggest that his death in a plane crash prevented authorities from fully uncovering the extent of his criminal activities.
The Sinister Legacy of Roberto Wagner Fernandes
A Life of Shadows
Roberto Wagner Fernandes was born on April 26, 1965, in Londrina, Brazil, and lived a life that would later unravel into a dark tale of murder and intrigue. By the time of his untimely death at the age of 40, in a plane crash on December 13, 2005, in Misiones Department, Paraguay, Fernandes had become an infamous figure, linked posthumously to the gruesome murders of three women in Miami, Florida between 2000 and 2001. Investigators have speculated that his trail of violence might extend far beyond these confirmed cases.
The Murder of Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes
The first significant chapter in Fernandes' life of crime unfolded on November 18, 1996. On this ominous morning, the tranquility of a residential building in Londrina was shattered by a violent domestic dispute. Neighbors, alarmed by what they heard, called the police after the commotion concluded with gunshots. The shooter was Roberto Wagner Fernandes, a licensed pilot, who fled the scene with his five-year-old daughter. His wife, Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes, a 27-year-old teacher, was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
The revelation of this crime shocked the local community, who had known the couple as polite and caring parents. During the trial, it was divulged that the confrontation erupted when Danyelle discovered Fernandes' infidelity with a prostitute. Fernandes claimed self-defense, asserting that Danyelle had threatened him with a revolver, leading him to accidentally shoot her. However, the narrative took a darker turn when the prostitute accused Fernandes of attempting to kill her. She recounted a harrowing ordeal where, under the influence of cocaine and whiskey, Fernandes had brutally assaulted her before trying to drown her in a bathtub. She escaped, and after a tense confrontation, Fernandes let her go.
Despite this damning testimony, Fernandes and his lawyers discredited the woman's account, portraying her as a manipulator seeking more money. With a lack of conclusive evidence, Fernandes was acquitted of his wife's murder, a verdict that would set off a chain of further violence.
A New Life in Miami
Following his acquittal, rumors circulated that Danyelle's family sought vengeance, purportedly hiring a hitman to kill Fernandes. Whether fueled by fear or a desire to escape his past, Fernandes fled to the United States, settling in Miami, Florida. Between 1996 and 1999, he worked as a bus driver and a flight attendant, continuing to engage in the same illicit activities that had marred his life in Brazil.
The darkness within Fernandes resurfaced on June 24, 2000, when two motorists in Boca Raton stumbled upon a suitcase by the roadside. Inside was the body of 35-year-old Kim Dietz-Livesey, a known prostitute. Her murder shocked her community, including friends from Alcoholics Anonymous and a biker group. Despite public appeals for information, the case turned cold.
Just weeks later, on August 9, the body of Sia Demas was discovered in a duffel bag near Dania Beach. She had been strangled. Then, on August 30, 2001, Jessica Good's lifeless, stabbed body was found floating in Biscayne Bay. Her boyfriend later revealed that she had left to meet a "light-skinned Hispanic man," never to return.
Escape and Death
Fernandes was soon identified as a suspect in Jessica Good's murder, but he evaded arrest by fleeing back to Brazil, a country without an extradition treaty with the United States. In Brazil, his shadowy presence lingered, and he was suspected of involvement in other violent crimes, including a rape in 2003, though he was never apprehended.
The specter of Fernandes' crimes was finally laid to rest on December 13, 2005, when the Cessna 310 he was piloting crashed en route to Argentina, killing him instantly. His remains were interred in his hometown, but his death did not close the book on his dark legacy.
Posthumous Revelation
In 2011, a breakthrough came when Fernandes' fingerprints were matched to all three Miami crime scenes. Investigators traveled to Brazil, only to learn that he had perished in the 2005 plane crash. Skeptical, they suspected he might have faked his death but were unable to exhume his remains at the time.
The case languished until 2018, when a similar case in Cuba paved the way for American detectives to reopen investigations. In 2020, with assistance from the Brazilian Federal Police, Fernandes' grave was exhumed to verify his identity. On August 31, 2021, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony confirmed Fernandes as the perpetrator of the Miami murders and verified his death in the plane crash.
This grim confirmation reignited investigations into Fernandes' past, as authorities in both the United States and Brazil now believe his murderous spree may have claimed more victims than those already known.
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Wife Murdered
Roberto Wagner Fernandes shoots his wife Danyelle during a domestic dispute.
Acquitted of Murder
Fernandes is acquitted of his wife's murder due to lack of evidence.
First Victim Found
The body of Kim Dietz-Livesey is discovered in a suitcase in Cooper City.
Second Victim Found
The body of Sia Demas is found in a duffel bag near Dania Beach.
Third Victim Found
Jessica Good's body is found floating in Biscayne Bay.
Fled to Brazil
Fernandes flees to Brazil before he can be arrested for the murders.
Fernandes Dies
Roberto Wagner Fernandes dies in a plane crash in Paraguay.
Identification of Suspect
Fernandes' fingerprints are matched to the crime scenes.
Official Identification
Fernandes is officially identified as the killer of three women in Miami.
Roberto Wagner Fernandes, a Brazilian serial killer and rapist, is linked posthumously to the murders of three prostitutes in Miami, Florida, occurring between 2000 and 2001. Fernandes, born on April 26, 1965, in Londrina, Brazil, was previously acquitted for the 1996 murder of his wife, Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes, after a domestic dispute escalated to gunfire. He died in a plane crash in Paraguay on December 13, 2005, before he could be apprehended for the Miami murders, which investigators believe may be part of a larger pattern of violence. Current investigations suggest he could be responsible for additional unsolved murders in both the United States and Brazil, although no formal charges were ever brought against him due to his death.
Roberto Wagner Fernandes is believed to have been involved in other unsolved murders beyond the three confirmed cases in Miami, as investigators suspect he may have had a broader pattern of violence. Some speculate that his earlier acquittal for the murder of his wife indicates a possible history of domestic violence that could have escalated into his later crimes. Additionally, theories suggest that his death in a plane crash prevented authorities from fully uncovering the extent of his criminal activities.
The Sinister Legacy of Roberto Wagner Fernandes
A Life of Shadows
Roberto Wagner Fernandes was born on April 26, 1965, in Londrina, Brazil, and lived a life that would later unravel into a dark tale of murder and intrigue. By the time of his untimely death at the age of 40, in a plane crash on December 13, 2005, in Misiones Department, Paraguay, Fernandes had become an infamous figure, linked posthumously to the gruesome murders of three women in Miami, Florida between 2000 and 2001. Investigators have speculated that his trail of violence might extend far beyond these confirmed cases.
The Murder of Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes
The first significant chapter in Fernandes' life of crime unfolded on November 18, 1996. On this ominous morning, the tranquility of a residential building in Londrina was shattered by a violent domestic dispute. Neighbors, alarmed by what they heard, called the police after the commotion concluded with gunshots. The shooter was Roberto Wagner Fernandes, a licensed pilot, who fled the scene with his five-year-old daughter. His wife, Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes, a 27-year-old teacher, was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
The revelation of this crime shocked the local community, who had known the couple as polite and caring parents. During the trial, it was divulged that the confrontation erupted when Danyelle discovered Fernandes' infidelity with a prostitute. Fernandes claimed self-defense, asserting that Danyelle had threatened him with a revolver, leading him to accidentally shoot her. However, the narrative took a darker turn when the prostitute accused Fernandes of attempting to kill her. She recounted a harrowing ordeal where, under the influence of cocaine and whiskey, Fernandes had brutally assaulted her before trying to drown her in a bathtub. She escaped, and after a tense confrontation, Fernandes let her go.
Despite this damning testimony, Fernandes and his lawyers discredited the woman's account, portraying her as a manipulator seeking more money. With a lack of conclusive evidence, Fernandes was acquitted of his wife's murder, a verdict that would set off a chain of further violence.
A New Life in Miami
Following his acquittal, rumors circulated that Danyelle's family sought vengeance, purportedly hiring a hitman to kill Fernandes. Whether fueled by fear or a desire to escape his past, Fernandes fled to the United States, settling in Miami, Florida. Between 1996 and 1999, he worked as a bus driver and a flight attendant, continuing to engage in the same illicit activities that had marred his life in Brazil.
The darkness within Fernandes resurfaced on June 24, 2000, when two motorists in Boca Raton stumbled upon a suitcase by the roadside. Inside was the body of 35-year-old Kim Dietz-Livesey, a known prostitute. Her murder shocked her community, including friends from Alcoholics Anonymous and a biker group. Despite public appeals for information, the case turned cold.
Just weeks later, on August 9, the body of Sia Demas was discovered in a duffel bag near Dania Beach. She had been strangled. Then, on August 30, 2001, Jessica Good's lifeless, stabbed body was found floating in Biscayne Bay. Her boyfriend later revealed that she had left to meet a "light-skinned Hispanic man," never to return.
Escape and Death
Fernandes was soon identified as a suspect in Jessica Good's murder, but he evaded arrest by fleeing back to Brazil, a country without an extradition treaty with the United States. In Brazil, his shadowy presence lingered, and he was suspected of involvement in other violent crimes, including a rape in 2003, though he was never apprehended.
The specter of Fernandes' crimes was finally laid to rest on December 13, 2005, when the Cessna 310 he was piloting crashed en route to Argentina, killing him instantly. His remains were interred in his hometown, but his death did not close the book on his dark legacy.
Posthumous Revelation
In 2011, a breakthrough came when Fernandes' fingerprints were matched to all three Miami crime scenes. Investigators traveled to Brazil, only to learn that he had perished in the 2005 plane crash. Skeptical, they suspected he might have faked his death but were unable to exhume his remains at the time.
The case languished until 2018, when a similar case in Cuba paved the way for American detectives to reopen investigations. In 2020, with assistance from the Brazilian Federal Police, Fernandes' grave was exhumed to verify his identity. On August 31, 2021, Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony confirmed Fernandes as the perpetrator of the Miami murders and verified his death in the plane crash.
This grim confirmation reignited investigations into Fernandes' past, as authorities in both the United States and Brazil now believe his murderous spree may have claimed more victims than those already known.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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Wife Murdered
Roberto Wagner Fernandes shoots his wife Danyelle during a domestic dispute.
Acquitted of Murder
Fernandes is acquitted of his wife's murder due to lack of evidence.
First Victim Found
The body of Kim Dietz-Livesey is discovered in a suitcase in Cooper City.
Second Victim Found
The body of Sia Demas is found in a duffel bag near Dania Beach.
Third Victim Found
Jessica Good's body is found floating in Biscayne Bay.
Fled to Brazil
Fernandes flees to Brazil before he can be arrested for the murders.
Fernandes Dies
Roberto Wagner Fernandes dies in a plane crash in Paraguay.
Identification of Suspect
Fernandes' fingerprints are matched to the crime scenes.
Official Identification
Fernandes is officially identified as the killer of three women in Miami.