Dom Phillips: What happened to journalist and aid Bruno Pereira missing in Brazil and were they murdered?

Two bodies have been found in the search for the missing Bristol journalist and local expert Bruno Araujo Pereira - police in Brazil have confirmed that one man has confessed to their murder.
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Brazillian authorities have confirmed that two bodies have been found in the area where Guardian journalist Dom Phillips and local inidgenous expert Bruno Araujo went missing.

This was confirmed in a press conference held in Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state.

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Dom Phillips, 57, is a regular contributor to The Guardian and has been working extensively in the South American region for the last decade.

Both Phillips and Bruno Araujo Pereira - a local indigenous tribes expert - were last seen together in the remote Javari region.

Traces of blood were initially found on a fisherman’s boat on Thursday, 9 June 2022, as well as human remains in a local river, both of which were tested by authorities.

Personal belongings of both men were also found during the 10-day-long search.

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Here is everything you need to know about Dom Phillips, where he was last seen, what Brazilian authorities have said, as well as what may have happened to him and Mr Pereira.

Who is Dom Phillips?

Dom Phillips. Photo: Getty ImagesDom Phillips. Photo: Getty Images
Dom Phillips. Photo: Getty Images

Dom Phillips is a 57-year-old journalist - published in the likes of the Washington Post, Financial Times, New York Times and others - who moved from Bristol to work in Brazil around 10-years-ago.

Currently a regular contributor to The Guardian newspaper, Phillips has been residing in the north eastern region - the city of Salvador.

Working on his latest book which focuses on the preservation of the Amazon Rainforest, the journalist has been travelling to and from the tropical biome for research purposes alongside local expert Bruno Araujo Pereria - who has also been presumed missing.

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Mr Pereria is employed by the Brazilian Indigenous Affairs Agency, which focuses on supporting people living in remote areas of the rainforest.

Where were they last seen?

Dom Phillips talking to two indigenous men in Roraima State, Brazil in 2019. Photo: Getty ImagesDom Phillips talking to two indigenous men in Roraima State, Brazil in 2019. Photo: Getty Images
Dom Phillips talking to two indigenous men in Roraima State, Brazil in 2019. Photo: Getty Images

Both Mr Phillips and Mr Pereria were last seen together on Sunday, 5 June in the Javari Valley region, near the Peru border.

The pair were travelling by boat and were due to return from the Vale do Javari, but have not been seen since they were spotted in the community of Sao Rafael - where Pereria is believed to have set up a meeting with a local tribe.

However, the meeting did not go ahead and both Dom Phillips and Bruno Araujo Pereria decided to leave early towards Atalaia do Norte, last seen in a village near Sao Gabriel.

Whas has happened so far?

Dom Phillips visiting Aldeia Maloca Papiú, Roraima State, Brazil in 2019. Photo: Getty ImagesDom Phillips visiting Aldeia Maloca Papiú, Roraima State, Brazil in 2019. Photo: Getty Images
Dom Phillips visiting Aldeia Maloca Papiú, Roraima State, Brazil in 2019. Photo: Getty Images
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According to Mr Pereria’s boss, both Dom Phillips and his accompanying local expert were threatened during their two-day journey to the Jaburu Lake Region.

Bruno Araujo Pereira has historically been a target of illegal fishermen and poachers.

The region that the pair have been presumed missing in is widely renowned for being a notorious location for illegal drug smuggling from neighbouring country Peru - it is also known as a battleground between illegal mining and fishing businesses with government organisations.

Local indiginous groups have confirmed that both Phillps and Pereira had more than enough resources to survive the journey, as well as satellite communication devices.

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Plus, the pair are allegedly missing within the Amazonian Rainforest region - one of the most dangerous places on Earth, where experts say ‘every second counts’.

During a police search, a boat was found with traces of blood on it - it has been tested to find whether it is human or animal.

Personal belongings from both Dom Phillips and Bruno Aruajo Pereira have been located too - Mr Phillips’ boots and backpack with clothes inside, as well as Mr Pereira’s health ID card, boots, black trousers and a flip flop.

Also towards the end of last week, police found possible human remains in a river near the town of Atalaia do Norte and experts have since analysed the organic material.

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However, as of Wednesday 16 June, a local fisherman had confessed to killing both Mr Phillips and Mr Pereira in a remote area of the Amazon to Brazillian authorities.

The suspect led officers into the forest towards the burial location where two bodies were found.

Search teams brought two black body bags to the docks at the city of Atalaia do Norte - an autopsy is pending to confirm the identities of the deceased.

If it is confirmed that the victims are indeed Dom Phillips and Bruno Araujo Pereira, their bodies will be returned to their families, police have reaffirmed.

Has anyone been arrested in connection with the disappearance?

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The fisherman who confessed to the killing of both Dom Phillips and Bruno Araujo Pereira has been reprimanded.

Police had initally detained Amarildo de Oliveira last Wednesday, but failed to link him conclusively to the pair’s dissapearance - he was questioned and charged with illegal possession of restricted ammunition.

Oliveira’s brother Oseney was also arrested by authorites for ‘alleged aggrevated murder’.

More people are likely to be arresed in connection with the pair’s dissapearance.

What has been said?

Concern is growing for the British journalist who has not been seen since Sunday (Pic: AFP via Getty Images)Concern is growing for the British journalist who has not been seen since Sunday (Pic: AFP via Getty Images)
Concern is growing for the British journalist who has not been seen since Sunday (Pic: AFP via Getty Images)
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Speaking during the press briefing, local police said: ““On Tuesday [the suspect] informed us the location where the bodies were buried and he promised to go with us today to the site so we could confirm where the bodies were buried,” said regional police chief Eduardo Fontes.

“We would have no way of getting to that spot quickly without the confession.

“We found the bodies three kilometres into the woods,” said Fontes, who added that rescue and search teams had to travel for one hour and 40 minutes by river and 25 more minutes into the woods to reach the burial spot.

“We are now going to identify the human remains with the most dignity possible.

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“When the remains are proved to be those of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira, they will be delivered to the families.”

Police also believe that the missing boat that the pair used - which has not been found yet - has been purposely hidden underwater using bags of dirt.

Phillips’ wife Alessandra Sampaio issued the following heartbreaking statement: “It puts an end to the anguish of not knowing Dom and Bruno’s whereabouts”.

“Today, we also begin our quest for justice. I hope that the investigations exhaust all possibilities and bring definitive answers on all relevant details as soon as possible.”

Also in the statement, she thanked everyone involved in the search operation, especially the indigenous people and leaders who assisted.

“Now we can bring them home and say goodbye with love.”

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