The decapitated body of Evany José Metzger was found on May 18, 2015 in Padre Paraíso, Minas Gerais, Brazil, five days after the journalist had gone missing. According to news reports, the journalist’s body showed signs of physical violence and was found with his hands tied, while his head was discovered in a ditch 100 meters away. Several personal belongings, including various documents, his wallet and wedding ring were found nearby.
Metzker was a well-known investigative journalist in the area and ran the blog “Coruja do Vale” (engl.: Owl of the Valley), which regularly reported cases of corruption and was often viewed as critical of the government and police. According to the local newspaper Estado de Minas, Metzker had recently been investigating a child prostitution gang that was allegedly active in Catuji, Minas Gerais.
Metzker’s widow, Hilma Chaves Silva Borges, told Brazilian media that she had “no doubt” her husband was killed because of his journalistic work. “He was investigating everything, dirty politics, child prostitution, cargo theft”, she said, adding: “He clearly must have found the sore spot of some powerful person.”