A PSA and TW before we get started on this case. I am an aspiring investigative journalist and enjoy researching true crime. I am in no way condoning the behavior of such people and glorifying it. I would home bringing out unknown stories that will bring awareness to subjects such as domestic abuse, rape, and homicide. A trigger warning to anyone sensitive to the subject of rape or murder.
Francisco de Assis Pereira was born on November 29th, 1967 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As most of these cases start, he lived a troubled life that resulted in very serious issues later on in his life. With experiencing sexual trauma as a child and being corosed by his male boss into such acts, he developed trauma with sex and anything surrounding it. In one instance with a relationship with a goth girl, his boss almost ripped off his penis giving him a trigger anytime he would be with a partner. It has been suspected that this might be the reason for his killing spree. He also had been known to be violent to his girlfriends and most survivors testified that he had anger issues.
Pereira worked as a Motoboy at a company next to a police station that investigated crimes. A motoboy is a delivery man. Before the investigation with Pereria begins, he gets called to DHPP because he used a check under the name of Isador Fraenkel. He told them he had her consent and that they were friends. He got released later that day. He resigned from his work without notice and the owner of the DHPP told his work that he seemed odd when they called him in. What truly caught him was when he tried to kidnap another victim and gave her his card with all of his information on it. She reported him to the DHPP. Soon after, he had disappeared with only a newspaper on the table at his work and a note that said
"My journey here has ended"
The mysterious activity with Pereira soon became connected to four bodies that were found in the forest reserve in Sao Paulo. The case was released to Brazil news and soon the killer was dubbed, "The Park Maniac". Since Pereira was the main suspect in the case, they put his picture everywhere and he was finally caught when a fisherman he was staying with on the border ratted him out to the police and he was arrested.
Soon accounts came out from survivors, and his strategy was revealed. He was very extroverted and charming and would stand in the park telling young women that he was a photographer and a talent scout. He would get them to talk about their relationships and would get them to open up about their feelings. He would use this to get them vulnerable. He would take them to the park for a "nature shoot" where he would sexually abuse them and strangle them with their shoelaces.
When he was captured he confessed and took them to where the bodies had been. He confessed 9 murders and rapes, but it is believed he killed 11 women between the ages of 18-24. He was sentenced to 268 years in prison. He was almost lynched by a crowd of 30 people but was protected by police. He also was almost killed in a prison riot but was moved to a psychiatric facility.
Sadly, he will be able to be released in 2028 due to the laws in place in Brazil. The doctors that have been in contact with him believe that once released, he will make more offenses due to his mental health. This seems like a disservice to the young women who lost their lives to such a cruel man. Hopefully, this decision and law will be revoked before then and he will serve his full term in prison.
