AFTER evading authorities for 16 years, an influencer has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Reinaldo da Silva Melo was arrested after police found him in a jungle region of Brazil on Wednesday.
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The wanted man was taken into custody for the alleged murder of Fabio Gomes da Silva in 2009.
Police say Reinaldo was motivated by revenge, believing the victim was involved in the 2004 murder of his father, Arlindo Hortencio de Melo.
Fabio was murdered in Paulo Ramos, north of Brasilia in Brazil.
After the murder, Reinaldo vanished into the Brazilian jungle, evading authorities for 16 years.
In his time as a fugitive, Reinaldo built an online following of more than 317,000 Instagram followers, dubbing himself the “King of Juquirá”.
In Brazil, Juquirá refers to overgrown and often abandoned pastureland in the Amazon region.
Reinaldo posted videos showing his farming lifestyle, where he would clear fields with a scythe.
His posts featured both comedy and rural culture and knowledge.
Alongside his Instagram fanbase, he also has more than 283,000 TikTok followers.
As well as his successful social media presence, Reinaldo has gotten married and had three children.
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On Wednesday, police finally caught up with him in the rural area of Olho d’Agua das Cunhas.
Officers from the Bacabal Civil Police arrested him after years of searching.
The influencer remains in police custody.
Reinaldo’s team made a post to social media, updating fans of his situation.
“All appropriate legal measures are already being taken,” they said.
“The King of Juquirá hereby clarifies to the public, that due to legal issues, he is currently deprived of his freedom.
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“We ask for respect and to avoid hasty judgements,” the statement continued.
The King’s team said they “remain confident in the justice system and appreciated the messages of support”.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Maranhao Civil Police have Reinaldo in custody and have yet to release more details.
In a vague statement, a spokesperson said: “After legal procedures at the police station, the suspect was sent to a prison in the region”.
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