Case file
Murder of Dandara dos Santos
Documents violence · torture — written to inform, not to shock.
Dandara dos Santos, known as Dandara Kettley, was killed on 15 February 2017 in the Bom Jardim neighborhood of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The killing did not become publicly known until 16 days later, when two videos of the attack began circulating on social media. One video shows Dandara alone, already injured and bleeding, sitting on a sidewalk and pleading not to be hit again while bystanders incited further violence. A second video shows her being beaten by three men with kicks, slaps, a sandal, and a piece of wood after she was unable to climb into a wheelbarrow due to her injuries. Five men ultimately placed her in the wheelbarrow and moved her to another location, where she was shot twice and struck in the head with a rock, dying of a traumatic brain injury.
The investigation was led by detectives Bruno Ronchi Vieira of the 32nd Police District of Bom Jardim and Arlete Silveira of the Child and Adolescent Police Station. Authorities stated that those involved had been identified before the videos went public, though the case was initially kept from wide publicity to avoid hindering the investigation.
On 30 November 2017, Judge Danielle Pontes de Arruda Pinheiro of the 1st Jury Court of Fortaleza announced that five defendants would face trial for aggravated homicide — with aggravating factors of vile motive, cruelty, and use of means preventing the victim's defense — as well as corruption of minors. A first trial was held on 5–6 April 2018, lasting nearly 15 hours. Four defendants confessed to participating in the assault but denied intent to kill. Sentences were individualized: Francisco José Monteiro de Oliveira Junior received 21 years for shooting Dandara; Jean Victor Silva Oliveira, Rafael Alves da Silva Paiva, and Francisco Gabriel dos Reis each received 16 years for their respective roles in the beating; and Isaías da Silva Camurça received 14 years and 6 months for directing offensive language at Dandara during the attack. This was reportedly the first time a Brazilian court cited transphobia as an aggravating motive in a homicide sentence.
A sixth defendant, Júlio César Braga da Costa, was tried separately on 23 October 2018 after unsuccessfully appealing to avoid a jury trial. He was convicted of aggravated homicide under the same aggravating circumstances and sentenced to 16 years in a closed regime, but was acquitted of the charge of corruption of minors.
The case drew significant public and governmental attention. Ceará Governor Camilo Santana called the killing "repugnant and unacceptable" and directed state security officials to identify and punish those responsible. On 10 March 2017, LGBT rights organizations held a public demonstration in Fortaleza in Dandara's memory, and on 13 September 2017, Ceará instituted a State Day of Combating Transphobia on 15 February, the anniversary of her death. Civil police officer and childhood friend Vitória Holanda later wrote a book about Dandara's life, and in December 2019 artist Rubem Robierb unveiled a memorial sculpture in her honor in Manhattan, later intended for permanent display in Miami.
Key facts
- Victims
- Dandara dos Santos
- Date
- 2017
- Location
- Bom Jardim, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2017-02-15
Dandara dos Santos is beaten and later shot and fatally struck in Bom Jardim, Fortaleza, Ceará.
2017-03
Videos of the attack circulate on social media, bringing the case widespread public attention.
2017-03-10
LGBT rights groups hold a public demonstration in Fortaleza in Dandara's memory.
2017-09-13
Ceará institutes the State Day of Combating Transphobia, observed on 15 February in honor of Dandara.
2017-11-30
Judge Danielle Pontes de Arruda Pinheiro announces five defendants will face jury trial for aggravated homicide and corruption of minors.
2018-04-05
First jury trial begins in the 1st Jury Room of the Clóvis Beviláqua Forum, Fortaleza.
2018-04-06
Sentences are handed down for five defendants, ranging from 14 years 6 months to 21 years.
2018-10-23
Sixth defendant Júlio César Braga da Costa is tried separately and sentenced to 16 years for aggravated homicide; acquitted of corruption of minors.
2019-12-14
A memorial sculpture honoring Dandara is unveiled in Tribeca, Manhattan.
Best coverage
No approved coverage links are attached yet.
People
Bruno Ronchi Vieira
LAW ENFORCEMENTDetective with the 32nd Police District (32nd DP) of Bom Jardim who coordinated the investigation.
citation on file
Dandara dos Santos
VICTIMBrazilian travesti beaten and killed on 15 February 2017 in Fortaleza, Ceará.
citation on file
Isaías da Silva Camurça
CONVICTEDSentenced to 14 years and 6 months for directing offensive words at Dandara dos Santos during the attack.
citation on file
Francisco Gabriel dos Reis
CONVICTEDSentenced to 16 years for assaulting Dandara dos Santos with a sandal.
citation on file
Júlio César Braga da Costa
CONVICTEDTried separately and sentenced to 16 years for aggravated homicide; acquitted of corruption of minors.
citation on file
Rafael Alves da Silva Paiva
CONVICTEDSentenced to 16 years for kicking Dandara dos Santos during the attack.
citation on file
Jean Victor Silva Oliveira
CONVICTEDSentenced to 16 years for using a wooden board to beat Dandara dos Santos.
citation on file
Arlete Silveira
LAW ENFORCEMENTDetective with the Child and Adolescent Police Station (DCA) who coordinated the investigation.
citation on file
Francisco José Monteiro de Oliveira Junior
CONVICTEDSentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting Dandara dos Santos.
citation on file
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- Dandara dos Santos, a Brazilian travesti, was beaten by a group of men and later shot and fatally struck with a rock in Fortaleza, Ceará, on 15 February 2017. Videos of the attack circulating on social media brought international attention to the case. Six defendants were convicted in two separate jury trials in 2018.
- Where did the murder happen?
- Bom Jardim, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
- Who was convicted?
- Isaías da Silva Camurça (Sentenced to 14 years and 6 months for directing offensive words at Dandara dos Santos during the attack.), Francisco Gabriel dos Reis (Sentenced to 16 years for assaulting Dandara dos Santos with a sandal.), Júlio César Braga da Costa (Tried separately and sentenced to 16 years for aggravated homicide; acquitted of corruption of minors.), Rafael Alves da Silva Paiva (Sentenced to 16 years for kicking Dandara dos Santos during the attack.), Jean Victor Silva Oliveira (Sentenced to 16 years for using a wooden board to beat Dandara dos Santos.), and Francisco José Monteiro de Oliveira Junior (Sentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting Dandara dos Santos.).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved.
Sources
- Murder of Dandara dos Santoswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage of the investigation into Dandara dos Santos's deathnews · g1.globo.com · 2026-07-07
- Coverage of the book about Dandara dos Santos written by a police officer and childhood friendnews · tribunadoceara.com.br · 2026-07-07
