Paturis Park murders

{{Infobox Serial Killer

| name = Rainbow Maniac

| victims = 13

| country = Brazil

| states = São Paulo

| targets = Gay men

| weapon = Firearm

| apprehended = N/A

| beginyear = 2007

| endyear = 2008

}}

The Paturis Park murders are a series of 13 murders of gay men committed between July 2007 and August 2008. The murders took place in Paturis Park ("Parque dos Paturis") in Carapicuíba, Brazil, and were perpetrated by an unidentified serial killer who has been dubbed the "Rainbow Maniac".

Murders and investigation

The killings took place between February 2007 and August 2008 in Paturis Park. The victims, all gay men, were aged 20–40. All but one were shot, 12 of them in the head; one died from blows to the head. The last victim was shot 12 times.{{cite news |title=Homophobic serial killer stalks Sao Paulo |last=Phillips |first=Tom |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=15 December 2008 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10548192 |accessdate=7 March 2019}} According to Brazilian media, the park is in an area frequented by prostitutes.{{cite news |author= |title=Brazil police investigate possible serial killings of 13 gay men in last 2 years |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-lt-brazil-gay-men-killed,1,6154956.story |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |location=São Paulo, Brazil |date=8 December 2008 |access-date=7 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209133129/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-lt-brazil-gay-men-killed,1,6154956.story |archivedate=December 9, 2008}}{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom| title=The 'Rainbow killer' stalks Brazilian gays |work=The Guardian |date=14 December 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/14/brazil-rainbow-serial-killer |accessdate=30 December 2008 |location=London}} Police dubbed the killer the "Rainbow Maniac",{{cite news |title=Brazil Suspects Former Cop in Murders of 13 Homosexuals |work=Latin American Herald Tribune |url=http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=322826&CategoryId=14090 |location=Sao Paolo |accessdate=30 December 2008 |archive-date=8 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308081012/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=322826&CategoryId=14090 |url-status=dead }} a reference to the gay pride flag.

The first murder occurred on 4 July 2007 and the last on 15 March 2009.{{cite news |title=Confira a cronologia dos assassinatos no parque dos Paturis |work=O Estado de S. Paulo |date=16 March 2009 |url=http://sao-paulo.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,confira-a-cronologia-dos-assassinatos-no-parque-dos-paturis,339794 |accessdate=14 February 2015}}

Officials from the São Paulo State Public Safety Department announced that the killer could be a state police officer.{{cite news |title=Police officer is suspect in serial murders of gays in Brazil |work=Dallas Voice |date=22 December 2008 |url=http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_10225.php |location=Sao Paolo, Brazil |accessdate=30 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131132134/http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_10225.php |archivedate=31 January 2010}} {{As of|2008}}, tests are underway to see if the same gun was used in each murder.{{cite news |last=Olle |first=Nick |date=9 December 2008 |title=Police hunt suspected serial killer in Brazil |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-12-10/police-hunt-suspected-serial-killer-in-brazil/235476 |work=ABC News |location=Buenos Aires |access-date=7 March 2019}}

Suspect arrested

On 10 December 2008, police arrested a retired state police sergeant, Jairo Francisco Franco, based on witness statements implicating him in a murder which occurred on 19 August 2008.{{cite news |title=Brazilian ex-cop quizzed in deaths of 13 gays |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28183182 |work=NBC News |agency=Associated Press |date=11 December 2008 |access-date=7 March 2019}} A witness claims to have seen Franco shoot a black gay man 12 times that night. Another witness told police that Franco often visited the park to look for gay men and victims.

Suspect released

On 23 August 2011, Jairo Francisco Franco was released after the trial, having been declared not guilty by the jury by 4 votes against 2.{{cite news |last=Jozino |first=Josmar |date=26 August 2011 |title=Júri absolve PM acusado de matar 13 gays em parque |url=http://www.agora.uol.com.br/saopaulo/ult10103u965567.shtml |work=Agora São Paulo |access-date=7 March 2019}}