Pedro Rodrigues Filho, also known as Pedrinho Matador or “Killer Pete,” was a notorious serial killer in his country and served as the inspiration for a complex anti-hero character on television.
Claiming responsibility for over 100 deaths spanning five decades, he was officially convicted of 71 murders.
After spending more than 40 years behind bars, he gained a reputation akin to a modern-day “Robin Hood,” targeting drug traffickers, gang members, and other criminals.
Born on October 29, 1954, in a rural Brazilian town, his life was marred by violence from the beginning – his mother was kicked by his father while pregnant, resulting in a fractured skull for Pedro before he was born.
Pedro cited this early exposure to violence as a significant influence on his later actions, as reported by sources.
At the age of nine, Pedro ran away from home, initially seeking refuge with relatives before drifting to São Paulo, where he began a life of theft and vagrancy.
By his early teens, he claimed his first murder, allegedly pushing a cousin into a sugar cane press and later attacking him with a machete, though the incident was never corroborated.
His propensity for violence became evident as he grew older, with confirmed instances of murder, such as shooting a local drug dealer in São Paulo in his teenage years, reportedly in retaliation for a family dispute.
Pedro’s criminal acts escalated as he sought vengeance for the death of a woman he lived with, Botinha, whose husband was a drug dealer. His spree of killings continued until his capture in 1973 at the age of 18, leaving behind a trail of victims ranging from drug pushers to rapists.
Initially sentenced to 128 years in prison, his time behind bars saw him escalating his death toll by targeting fellow inmates, resulting in a significantly lengthier sentence.
Within the prison walls, Pedrinho Matador became infamous for his boastful claims of killing numerous prisoners, many of whom were convicted of violent crimes.
In his early twenties, Pedro alleged he avenged his mother’s death by killing his father, whom he accused of her murder. He described the act in gruesome detail, claiming it was an act of retribution, not hunger.
By the mid-1980s, it was estimated that he had killed over 40 inmates within Brazil’s most secure penitentiary, portraying a composed and confident demeanor to reporters.
Released in 2007 due to legal restrictions on prison terms, after serving 34 years, Pedro found himself back in prison a few years later following his involvement in a prison riot. He was released once more in 2018, at the age of 64, asserting his reformation and newfound faith in Christianity.
Establishing a YouTube channel titled “Pedrinho, Former Killer with Jesus,” he shared insights on the dangers of criminal activities and the significance of redemption, attracting a substantial following.
Despite his violent past, Pedro aimed to caution others against the allure of crime, emphasizing the destructive consequences it brings.
On March 5, 2023, Pedro was fatally shot outside a relative’s house in Mogi das Cruzes, where he once held sway over criminal activities, ending his life at the age of 68.
His story garnered global attention, drawing parallels to fictional characters and serving as an inspiration for various works, including Jeff Lindsay’s novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter and its TV adaptation featuring Michael C. Hall.