Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
WARNING: The following contains graphic descriptions of murder and cannibalism.
WARNING: The following contains graphic descriptions of murder and cannibalism.
A Quiet Town’s Dark Secret
Garanhuns, a sleepy town in Brazil’s Pernambuco state, harbored a shocking nightmare.
Behind the façade of a peaceful community, a trio committed unthinkable crimes that would horrify the nation.
The Trio of Terror
Jorge Beltrão Negromonte da Silveira, his wife Isabel Cristina Pires, and his mistress Bruna Cristina Oliveira da Silva lived together.
Together, they orchestrated a string of murders laced with cannibalism and deceit.
Cannibal Cuisine for the Masses
The trio disguised human flesh in savory pies, selling them to unsuspecting locals in Garanhuns—including near schools and hospitals.
The Adoption That Shocked Brazil
After murdering a young woman, the trio adopted her daughter.
The child lived with the killers, unaware at first that they were responsible for her mother’s death.
Origins of a Cult
Their spree began in 2007 in Olinda, under the guise of a cult they called “O Cartel”.
Jorge styled himself as a spiritual leader, preaching a distorted ideology that rationalized murder.
Luring the Vulnerable
The group targeted impoverished women, offering false promises of jobs and shelter—only to lead them to gruesome fates.
The First Known Victim
Jéssica Camila, a 17-year-old homeless girl, became their first documented victim.
Her trust was gained through manipulation and emotional coercion.
A Diary of Darkness
Bruna’s diary, spanning March to July 2007, detailed how they “won over” Jéssica, using gifts and psychological tactics to gain control.
Cult Psychology and Control
Bruna described Jorge as a strict mentor whose influence reshaped her identity.
She wrote that she had to “become the woman” he wanted her to be.
A Ritualistic Killing
On June 26, 2008, Jorge strangled Jéssica during an argument.
Bruna held her down while he cut her throat, describing the act later as part of a twisted purification rite.
The Body and the Elements
Jorge explained on national TV how they divided victims’ bodies according to the classical elements—claiming spiritual motives behind each dismemberment.
A Child Caught in Horror
After the murder, Jéssica’s daughter was registered as Jorge’s and remained with the trio—raised in a home filled with ritualistic killings and fed human remains.
A Grim Pattern Emerges
Following Jéssica’s death, two more women—Gisele Helena da Silva and Alessandra Falcão—met similar fates.
Each lured in with hope, only to be murdered and cannibalized.
The Mistake That Unraveled Everything
The trio’s downfall began in 2012 when Jorge and Bruna were caught on surveillance using a dead victim’s credit card, triggering a deeper investigation.
Pies Stuffed with Horror
Human flesh was ground and hidden in Brazilian pastries called coxinhas.
Bruna claimed she was terrified of becoming one herself if she resisted.
Isabel’s Cold Justification
Isabel dismissed moral concerns, reportedly saying, “It’s the same as eating beef”.
She helped bake and sell the pastries, making money from death.
Child Witness and Survivor
Jéssica’s daughter, now older, became a key witness.
Her testimony led police to graves in the backyard.
Police Find the Proof
In 2012, police raided the home and unearthed remains of two women.
Bloodstains and other forensic evidence confirmed the horrific acts.
Justice, Confessions, and Denial
Initially denying involvement, Jorge claimed mental illness.
Later, he confessed and admitted coercing Bruna to take the blame.
Isabel remained silent, saying she couldn’t defy him.
The verdict
Ultimately, Jorge and Bruna were sentenced to 71 years in prison each, while Isabel received 68 years, all in closed regime facilities.
The Aftermath and Lingering Trauma
Jéssica’s daughter now fights a legal battle to remove Jorge’s name from her birth certificate.
Branded “the cannibal’s daughter,” she battles stigma and seeks a new life away from her painful past.
