The story begins in July 2008, in Rio Brilhante, a quiet city 158 km from Campo Grande, Brazil. That month, the residents’ routine was disrupted when the body of Catalino Gardena, a 33-year-old construction worker, was found in a vacant lot.
The crime scene was horrifying: Catalino had been killed with a precise stab to the heart, and his head was wrapped in a plastic bag. However, the most striking aspect was the way his body was positioned: arms and legs spread, forming a cross.
Catalino’s death caused an uproar in the city. He was known as a simple man, despite struggling with alcoholism. The police launched an investigation but had no concrete leads on the perpetrator or their motives. Everything suggested it might be an isolated case.
The Second Victim
In August of the same year, another brutal crime occurred, and the similarities to Catalino’s case led the police to suspect a serial killer. This time, the victim was Letícia Neves de Oliveira, a 22-year-old gas station attendant. Letícia was found in a cemetery, nude and lying on a grave, once again with her body arranged in the shape of a cross.
Before disappearing, Letícia had told her family she was going out to meet friends. However, she was not seen again until her body was found in shocking conditions at the cemetery.
The way the two victims were left created an atmosphere of terror in Rio Brilhante. Residents began avoiding going out at night, fearing they might become the next victims of the killer, now dubbed the Cross Maniac.
A Macabre Pattern
In October 2008, the tragedy reached its peak with the murder of Gleice Kelly da Silva, a 13-year-old girl. Her body was found in a construction site surrounded by crosses drawn on the ground.
Near the body, investigators found a note with the word “Hell,” reinforcing the religious symbolism seemingly guiding the Cross Maniac’s crimes.
Gleice was described as a cheerful girl but with typical teenage issues. She had engaged in drug use, which the killer cited as justification for her death.
The discovery of the teenager’s body further heightened the panic in the city, and the pressure on the police to capture the perpetrator became unbearable.
The Role of Orkut in the Investigation
At the time, Orkut was one of the most popular social networks in Brazil, and the police decided to use it to gather clues. While investigating the victims’ profiles, they found something disturbing: a message on Gleice’s profile from a user named “Dog Hell 666.”
The message read: “The dead shouldn’t receive scraps, you idiots.” This detail caught the investigators’ attention, prompting them to track down the author of the message.
The investigation revealed that “Dog Hell 666” was the profile of Jonathan Celestrino, a young man with reclusive and odd behavior. He had interacted with all the victims in some way, either personally or online. This led the police to delve deeper into his activities.
The Capture
When police arrived at Jonathan’s house, they found incriminating evidence linking him to the murders. Among the items seized were a knife with traces of blood, newspaper clippings about the crimes, Gleice’s cellphone, and a notebook containing disturbing writings.
In his notes, Jonathan expressed hatred toward religion and mentioned the phrase “death to Christians.” His room also contained a poster of the Park Maniac, another infamous Brazilian killer.
Faced with the evidence, Jonathan confessed to the crimes. He revealed that he chose his victims based on their beliefs and behaviors, which he deemed incompatible with “God’s precepts.” Catalino was killed for being an alcoholic and homosexual; Letícia for being transgender; and Gleice for using drugs. Jonathan believed he was carrying out a “divine mission” through these murders.
The Killer’s Methods
Despite his gruesome history, one young woman managed to survive Jonathan’s attack. Carla, 17, was returning from a concert when he approached her. Jonathan threatened her with a knife and led her to a vacant lot, where he began questioning her about religion, sexuality, and other topics. He seemed to use the victims’ answers to decide their fate.
Fortunately, Carla gave answers that “satisfied” Jonathan, and he decided to let her go. However, before releasing her, he issued a threat: if she told anyone, he would kill her entire family. The trauma left deep scars on Carla, who developed constant fear and frequent nightmares.
Jonathan’s Fate
In 2014, Jonathan was arrested and declared unfit to stand trial due to mental disorders. He was committed to a mental health unit in a maximum-security prison in Campo Grande, where he remains to this day. Since then, reports indicate that he shows no signs of hallucinations or aggressive behavior, but his condition continues to be monitored.
Few additional details about Jonathan have been disclosed, as his case is under judicial secrecy. The latest update, from 2019, confirms that he remains hospitalized and receiving psychiatric treatment.
