The world’s worst teenage serial killer

It was news that shocked even the most hardened investigators in August 2009: a 17-year-old schoolgirl from São Paulo confessed to the police that she had stabbed 30 men to death since the age of 15. The story, reported by Fox News, shook not only the São Paulo police headquarters, but the entire nation. The young perpetrator, whose identity is protected due to her minority, revealed her murderous spree to the authorities in a shocking confession. She stated that she wanted to confess before her 18th birthday, as she could not be prosecuted as an adult after that. In her statements, she cold-bloodedly explained that she had committed the murders for various motives: “for money, revenge, and justice.” Apparently, she lacked the courage to use a firearm, but she could wield a knife with deadly precision. Thus, for two years, the young woman left a trail of death through the streets of São Paulo. One theory is that she was hired as a contract killer by underworld bosses precisely because she looked so innocent. This assumption was supported by reports that the perpetrator was involved in a street fight prior to her arrest, which ultimately led to her capture. The story of this young murderer still raises many questions today and has challenged experts to understand the reasons and background behind such acts. There were indications that she specifically targeted men, which made her actions even more mysterious and frightening. According to her statements, her first crime took place shortly after her 15th birthday. At that time, she told investigators, she attacked a man to get money. The crime went smoothly for her, which encouraged her to continue. In the months that followed, she said she specifically sought out men she considered corrupt or morally reprehensible. Her idea of justice was distorted and bloody. During her interrogations, the young woman showed little remorse. She spoke of her actions with a coldness that sent shivers down the spines of even the most experienced investigators. “I wasn’t afraid,” she said. “I knew I was stronger than them.” Her words suggested that she believed herself to be in a position of power that gave her a feeling of absolute control. A psychiatric examination was ordered to assess her mental state. The experts were to find out whether she was suffering from a mental disorder or whether other factors had driven her to commit these atrocities. It was suspected that she had experienced deep-rooted trauma or abuse that had led her down this dark path. At the same time, the police investigated possible links to criminal networks. It is unclear whether the young woman actually acted as a kind of teenage hitwoman. If this were to prove true, it would reveal a new dimension of crime in São Paulo that would pose new challenges even for the toughest security forces. The case caused a great stir on social media and in the public eye. The teenage serial killer gained media fame as the São Paulo Girl. Many people were shocked and frightened that such a gruesome series of murders could go unnoticed. There was discussion about whether the existing justice system and social structures are sufficient to prevent such extreme cases and offer timely help to violent young offenders. The case of this 17-year-old serial killer undoubtedly went down in Brazilian criminal history. It posed major challenges not only for the investigating authorities, but also for psychologists and sociologists who wanted to understand the background to such crimes. It cannot be denied that the story of this young murderer reads like a dark chapter from a thriller that captivates and disturbs the reader until the very last page. For the families of the victims, however, her confession offered little comfort. Many of them had been searching for answers for a long time and hoped that the perpetrator would be caught. Now they were faced with the bitter reality: the murderer was a young girl, practically still a child, who had left a trail of horror and bloodshed in her wake. The São Paulo police were faced with the difficult task of piecing together the puzzle of this shocking case. This grim case once again highlighted the complexity of human depravity and the constant struggle of society and the justice system to understand and prevent such tragedies. There have been no further public reports on this case since 2011. I hope you enjoy my photos of São Paulo, where the world’s worst teenage serial killer is said to have killed 30 men with the same knife within two years.