Tiago Henrique Gomes da Rocha
Written By: JASR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Tiago Henrique Gomes da Rocha is a prolific Brazilian serial killer who confessed to killing at least 39 people over a three-year period. Gomes da Rocha confessed that he still feels the urge to kill even after the 39 murders – asking police guarding him in his cell if he could murder other inmates.
“He still wants to kill. His attitude is very strange,” said Police chief Eduardo Prado.
A Great Anger
Gomes da Rocha was born on 4 February 1988
claims that he killed people out of rage after being sexually abused by a neighbor when he was eleven years old. He said it was for about a month, and his abuser threatened to kill him if he told anyone.“I had an ordinary childhood until I was 11. Then I was sexually abused by a neighbor,” he said. “After that, I felt like I was nothing. In a way, I’m a victim here, too.”
According to him, he was motivated by “a great anger.” “I tried to do other things to get it out, but they didn’t work,” he said. He claimed that he started killing at the age of 22 years, saying “there could be 41 or so. I can’t really remember.”
The killer said he faced a lot of rejection in the past, so he directed part of his anger towards women.
He would randomly choose a victim after pondering over murder for “some days.” “I would think over it for some days. There was no type. Man or woman, that had nothing to do with it, but they had to be people I didn’t know,” said Gomes da Rocha.
In addition to his history of being abused and rejected, Gomes da Rocha said he was bullied at school. “I was quieter than the other kids. I suffered mental and physical aggression. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it, but these things accumulate inside you.”
The Pattern in His Victims
Most of the victims were young women, homeless people, and cross-dressers. Some reports say he targeted prostitutes and homosexuals as well. The majority of his victims were gunned down from a motorbike. His youngest victim was a 14-year-old girl who was shot dead as she was walking along a road.
When asked what he felt the morning after killing someone, Gomes da Rocha said he was not happy and there was the feeling of regret. “I’d like to ask for forgiveness, but I think it’s too difficult to ask for forgiveness right now.”
Reports say that his modus operandi was to shout “robbery” before pulling the trigger. He would then flee without taking anything. His other ways included stabbing prostitutes, shooting homeless men, and choking gays.
Reactions from People He Knew
Gomes da Rocha’s family members have expressed their concerns. His aunt said she did not believe her “humble and polite” nephew was guilty of murder.
“All he did was go out to work and look after his mother. He doesn’t have a girlfriend, he’s not the type to go out to parties, he doesn’t have friends. He is a humble and polite person. He finished his schooling, did a course to work as a security guard and got a job.”
She added that she doesn’t think he’s guilty, and the police are trying to put this on anyone. “Why would he be killing people for nothing?”
Gomes da Rocha’s mother said she believed her son was innocent. “It is impossible for us to believe that he could kill even one person. Imagine all of these things they are saying he did,” she said.
On the other hand, a married woman who allegedly had an affair with Gomes da Rocha said he turned aggressive after she called off the relationship, claiming that they had “a lot of fun” at first.
“He would shout and swear, slam the door, and keep looking over at us with a face contorted with rage. Sometimes he would just walk into our house without being invited,” she said.
Gomes Da Rocha’s Arrest
Gomes da Rocha was arrested in Goiania, a city in Brazil, by a special police team investigating the murders.
He was arrested after being pulled over after police found that he was facing trial for stealing a motorcycle’s license plate. He was stopped while riding with fake plates on the motorcycle that he would often use when killing his victims.
Gomes da Rocha confessed to killing 39 people a day later. He would refer to his victims only as numbers.
In May 2016, he was sentenced to 343 years and 10 months in prison.
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