Brazilian drug lord found hanging in jail cell days after he disguised as 19-year-old daughter in foiled escape attempt
A Brazilian drug dealer, who attempted to escape prison by disguising himself as his own 19-year-old daughter, was found dead in his jail cell.
The inmate, identified as 42-year-old Clauvino da Silva, was serving a 73-year sentence in Bangu prison, Rio de Janeiro, when he was caught trying to beak out of jail wearing an elaborate disguise involving a silicone mask on Saturday.
He was returned to his cell after being caught but was eventually found dead on Tuesday in an apparent hanging.
Authorities at the prison in Rio have launched an investigation into his death to probe whether he committed suicide or some other element was involved in his death, according to the Daily Mail.
Reports state that Da Silva had brought his daughter for a prison visit on Saturday when he made an escape attempt.
While his daughter hid from guards, he wore a silicone mask, wig, glasses, and women's clothing, including a pink top and bra before making an audacious attempt to sneak out of jail.
During his escape, officers noted that the woman they thought was Da Silva's daughter was moving "awkwardly" and decided to pull her aside.
Once they took her to the interrogation room, they realized that she was actually Da Silva in disguise.
The prison guards then took a video of him undressing and removing his wig and mask, which went viral online.
Rio's State Secretary of Prison Administration (Seap) spokesperson released a statement, saying: "Clauvino was wearing a pink t-shirt with a black bra underneath, had long black hair, tight jeans, white sandals, a coat and glasses but even though he had the face of a girl, he didn't move like a woman."
"Officers were suspicious of his appearance, particularly as he was in the middle of seven other women visitors who were leaving the prison and who appeared to be deliberately surrounding him to shield him from being seen clearly by us," the spokesperson added.
Da Silva, according to Seap, took advantage of visiting hours and exchanged clothes with his daughter, identified as Ana Gabriele, who was hiding inside the jail.
Officials are probing whether Gabriele is complicit in aiding her father.
Seven other female visitors, including a pregnant woman, have also been suspected of assisting Da Silva.
Authorities suspect that it was the pregnant woman who was carrying the disguise as it is against rules for her to be searched.
All of them were taken to a police station for questioning along with Gabriele.