September 28, 2024 • 20 mins
What drives a man to become a vigilante, taking the law into his own hands to eliminate those he deems unworthy of life? On this intense episode we explore the macabre life of Pedro Rodrigues Filho, the notorious "Killer of Killers." Born from a childhood riddled with abuse, Pedro's early traumas etched a violent path, leading him to target criminals like drug dealers and rapists in a chilling quest for what he saw as justice. With a staggering body count that includes murders committed behind bars, Pedro's story exposes the failures of the prison system and the chilling reality of a man driven by a dark, twisted code of ethics. We draw unsettling parallels between Pedro and the fictional character Dexter, delving into the traumatic childhoods and self-imposed moralities that shaped their violent tendencies. We also touch on his controversial release from prison, subsequent re-arrest, and his brutal murder in 2023, raising critical questions about justice, rehabilitation, and humanity's capacity for both good and evil. As we explore Pedro's legacy, we remind you that the stark difference between the romanticized vigilante justice in fiction and the devastating impact of real-life crimes cannot be ignored.
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Please send cases you want covered or stories you want read on the podcast to darkcrossroadspodcast@gmail.com. Don't forget to like, share, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you're listening to us. You can subscribe through the link in the episode notes to receive bonus content, discounts on future merchandise, and other extras.
Be Weird. Stay Different. Don't Trust Anyone!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Welcome to Dark Crossroads Podcast, hosted by
Roxanne Fletcher.
This is your stop for allthings true crime and paranormal
.
From the infamous story of theNew Bedford Highway Killer to
the chilling tale of the BlackEyed Children, dark Crossroads
Podcast is a truly deep diveinto the stories that frighten
and fascinate you.
All links to the show will beprovided in this episode's
(01:33):
description, and don't forget tolet us know what you think of
today's episode.
Hey guys, welcome back toanother episode of Dark
Crossroads, where you get tohang out with me, roxanne, as we
delve into the most chillingtrue crime stories from around
(01:54):
the world.
Today's case we are going to beexploring the twisted tale of a
man known as the Killer ofKillers, pedro Rodrigues Vilho.
Our story begins on June 17thof 1954.
Vilho Our story begins on June17th of 1954.
In a small town in Brazil, pedroRodriguez Vilho entered the
(02:15):
world with violence alreadyetched into his destiny.
It was reported that his skullwas injured during his birth
when his father, in a fit ofrage, decided to beat Pedro's
pregnant mother.
This early trauma may have setthe stage for the shocking life
that was to follow.
In most cases, pedro targetedvarious kinds of criminals,
finding them by looking up theirnames and addresses before
(02:37):
brutally killing them in avariety of ways.
Though he stated that hisfavorite way to murder criminals
was stabbing and or hackingthem to death with blades, he
was usually spurred to act afterhearing a crime was committed.
In some instances, he wouldcapture criminals, mostly career
criminals or drug dealers, andhe would torture them to death
(02:57):
whenever he was motivated byanger instead of thrill.
On occasion, he would changehis MO by adopting the MO
previously used by his victimsduring the commission of their
own crimes, such as when hekilled his father or when he
killed seven people in a singleday.
He has been described bypsychiatrists as the perfect
(03:18):
psychopath, though others preferto classify him as a sociopath
instead.
A psychological reportdiagnosed Rodriguez with
paranoid and antisocial traits.
Criminologists and writerssuggest that Pedro was an
avenger or vigilante.
They labeled him as this typeof serial killer with great
(03:39):
intelligence and an almostphotographic memory, who built
all of his identity over hismurders.
But to understand Pedro, weneed to understand the world
that he was born into.
1950s, brazil was a country intransition, grappling with rapid
urbanization, politicalinstability and widespread
poverty.
It was a breeding ground forcrime and violence, especially
(04:03):
in the impoverished rural areasthat Pedro would grow up in.
His childhood was marked byabuse and neglect.
His father, an alcoholic schoolguard, was known for his
violent temper.
Young Pedro witnessed domesticviolence on a regular basis,
which undoubtedly shaped hisperception of the world and his
place inside of it.
(04:24):
The next few years saw Pedro'sviolence escalate at an alarming
rate.
At the age of only 18, he hadalready killed 10 people.
But it wasn't just the numberof his victims that was shocking
, it was his method of selectingthem.
Pedro began to target othercriminals, particularly those he
deemed more reprehensible thanhimself.
(04:45):
Those that were drug dealers,rapists and murderers became his
preferred victims.
He developed a twisted code ofethics, seeing himself as a
vigilante cleaning up thestreets.
Pedro was unlike any killerthat anybody had encountered at
this time.
He wasn't motivated by money orsexual desires.
He killed because he genuinelybelieved that he was doing the
(05:07):
right thing.
It was as if he appointedhimself judge, jury and
executioner.
This modus operandi earnedPedro the nickname the killer of
killers.
He would often track down knowncriminals.
He would study their routinesand then he would strike with
ruthless efficiency.
In some cases he would eveninfiltrate criminal
(05:28):
organizations, gaining theirtrust before systematically
eliminating members he deemedworthy of death.
Pedro's approach was methodicaland, in his mind, justified.
He saw himself as a sort ofavenging angel ridding society
of its worst elements.
This delusion of righteousnessmade him particularly dangerous,
(05:49):
as he felt no remorse for hisactions.
One of Pedro's most notoriouskills occurred in 1977, when he
tracked down a drug lordresponsible for multiple deaths.
Pedro spent weeks gatheringintelligence, posing as a
low-level dealer to get close tohis target.
In a brutal display of hisskills, he eliminated not just
(06:10):
the drug lord but also four ofhis bodyguards in a single night
.
But his crusade againstcriminals wasn't limited to the
streets.
Even after his arrest andimprisonment, he continued his
mission behind bars, targetinginmates he considered
irredeemable.
A former prison guard statedthat Pedro had an uncanny
ability to identify the worstoffenders in the prison
(06:33):
population.
He would befriend them, learntheir stories and then, if he
deemed them unworthy of life, hewould strike.
Many inmates actually feltsafer with Pedro around,
believing that he was cleaningup the prison.
Pedro's reign of terror on thestreets came to an end in 1973,
when he was finally apprehendedby the authorities.
He was sentenced to 128 yearsin prison, but for Pedro this
(06:57):
was far from the end of hisstory.
The confines of a cell didnothing to curb his violent
tendencies.
While incarcerated, he killedat least 47 fellow inmates,
always targeting those that hedeemed worse than himself.
He saw himself as a force ofrighteousness within the prison
system.
He had an uncanny ability tocharm both inmates and the
(07:18):
guards, while simultaneouslyinstilling fear in those he
targeted.
He was soon seen as a trulydangerous individual.
As I dove deeper into Pedro'sstory, I started realizing that
it is crucial to examine thebroader implications of his
actions and the system thatultimately failed to contain him
.
Also, pedro's case raisestroubling questions about the
(07:40):
effectiveness of the Brazilianprison system.
How was he able to continuekilling even while incarcerated,
and what does this say aboutthe ability of the system to
rehabilitate offenders or evensimply to contain them?
A prison guard from thefacility that Pedro was being
held in stated Pedro was alwaysone step ahead.
He knew how to manipulate thesystem, how to get weapons, how
(08:03):
to choose his moments.
The other inmates wereterrified of him and even some
of the guards were weary.
It was like he ran the placefrom the deep shadows While in
prison.
Police records show that he wasonce transported in a vehicle
with another prisoner, both ofthem being handcuffed During
this transport.
Pedro had killed the otherinmate without police noticing
(08:24):
when they opened the car doorand saw the other prisoner was
dead.
Pedro said that he did itbecause the man was a rapist.
His desire for vengeance took anew target, however, when his
father murdered his mother witha machete.
Incarcerated in the same prison, pedro devised a plan to get
revenge for his mother, hestated.
(09:09):
This aspect of Pedro's criminalcareer a killer who targets
other killers has captured thepublic imagination and even
influenced popular culture,which brings us to an
interesting connection the hitTV show Dexter.
Many of our listeners may befamiliar with the popular TV
series.
Listeners may be familiar withthe popular TV series which
aired from 2006 to 2013.
(09:30):
The show follows Dexter Morgan,a forensic blood spatter
analysis for the Miami MetroPolice Department, who leads a
secret double life as avigilante serial killer,
targeting other murderers whohave evaded the justice system.
While Dexter is a work offiction, it is interesting to
note that the character ofDexter Morgan was loosely
(09:51):
inspired by real-life killerswho targeted other killers, and
Pedro just happened to be one ofthose primary influences.
Like Pedro, dexter is a serialkiller who targets other killers
, operating under a twistedmoral code that justifies murder
as a means of cleansing society.
While Dexter is a fictionalcharacter, it is interesting to
(10:12):
note that his creation wasloosely inspired by real-life
killers who targeted othercriminals, and Pedro was one of
those primary influences.
The author of the Dexter bookseries, on which the TV show was
based, has mentioned ininterviews that he was
fascinated by the concept ofkillers who targeted other
killers.
While he didn't base Dexterentirely on Pedro, the Brazilian
(10:36):
killer's story did play a rolein shaping the character.
The parallels between Pedro andthe fictional Dexter are quite
striking.
Both have a traumatic childhoodthat shaped their violent
tendencies.
Both developed a code of ethicsthat, while twisted, provided a
framework for their killings,and both saw themselves as a
(10:57):
force for good despite theirbrutal methods.
However, it is crucial to notethe significance between Pedro
and Dexter.
While Dexter is portrayed as asympathetic anti-hero with a
strict moral code, pedro'sreal-life actions were far more
chaotic and indiscriminate.
Dexter is a fictional characterdesigned to explore complex
(11:18):
moral questions, while Pedro wasa real person who caused
genuine harm and suffering.
The popularity of characterslike Dexter shows a cultural
fascination with the idea of badpeople being punished outside
the constraints of the law.
It's a fantasy of justice beingserved when the system fails,
but it's crucial to rememberthat, in reality, vigilante
(11:40):
killers like Pedro cause immenseharm and create cycles of
violence and create cycles ofviolence.
The Dexter connection raisesinteresting questions about how
society perceives vigilantejustice and the concept of good
killers.
It's a testament to the complexemotions Pedro's case awakens a
mixture of revulsion at hiscrimes and a grudging
(12:03):
fascination with his twistedsense of justice.
Pedro presents a fascinatingcase study in the world of
criminal psychology.
He doesn't fit neatly in atypical understanding of serial
killers.
His targeting of othercriminals and his twisted sense
of morality sets him apart.
In some ways, he's reminiscentof the fictional character
(12:23):
Dexter, a killer who only killsthose that he deems deserving of
death.
But unlike a fictionalcharacter, pedro's actions had
real, devastating consequences.
Each of his victims, regardlessof their crimes, left behind
families and loved ones.
The ripple effects of hisactions spread far and wide,
leaving a trail of trauma andgrief.
(12:46):
In a twist that shocked many,pedro was released from prison
in 2018 due to a Brazilian lawthat prohibited prisoners from
serving more than 30 years.
After decades behind bars, thekiller of killers was back on
the streets.
This development sparkedoutrage and fear in Brazil.
How can a man responsible forpotentially over 100 deaths be
(13:09):
allowed to walk free?
What does this say about theconcepts of justice and
rehabilitation?
Pedro's release highlighted theflaws in our justice system.
While the law is designed toprevent inhumane life sentences,
it failed to account forexceptional cases like Pedro's.
It raised serious questionsabout public safety and the
purpose of incarceration.
However, like Pedro's, itraised serious questions about
public safety and the purpose ofincarceration.
(13:31):
However, pedro's freedom wasshort-lived.
In 2020, he was arrested againon charges of involvement with
organized crime, suggesting thathis time in prison had done
very little to change hiscriminal tendencies.
While exploring Pedro's life andhis crimes, more questions than
answers surfaced.
His story forces us to confrontuncomfortable truths about the
(13:53):
human nature, justice and thethin line between good and evil
less evil.
Does his twisted sense ofjustice mitigate his crimes in
any way, and what does it sayabout our society that such a
prolific killer could eventuallywalk free?
(14:14):
His case is a stark reminder ofthe complexities of criminal
psychology.
It highlights the need for morenuanced approaches to justice
and rehabilitation.
It also underscores theimportance of addressing the
root causes of violence insociety, poverty, abuse and lack
of mental health support.
His story serves as a chillingcautionary tale.
(14:36):
It reminds us of the darknessthat can lurk within the human
soul and the devastatingconsequences when that darkness
is allowed to flourish flourish.
Now that I've covered thebroader aspect of Pedro's life
and crimes, I wanted to take acloser look at what earned him
the chilling moniker the killerof killers.
Pedro's victims weren't chosenat random.
(14:57):
He specifically targetedindividuals that he deemed to be
criminals themselves Drugdealers, rapists, murderers and
other violent offenders.
This peculiar code of ethicsset him apart from other serial
killers and added a complexlayer to his already
controversial legacy.
Pedro's focus on killing othercriminals stems from a warped
(15:19):
sense of justice.
In his mind, he was performinga service to society by
eliminating those that heconsidered to be the worst
offenders.
This delusion of righteousnessmade him particularly dangerous,
as he felt no remorse for hisactions.
Pedro's methods were ascalculated as they were brutal.
He would often spend weeks,sometimes months, tracking his
(15:40):
intended victims.
He would study their routines,infiltrate their circles and
strike when they least expectedit.
His precision was terrifying.
He didn't just kill people, heexecuted.
Each murder was like a missionfor him.
He saw himself as cleaning upthe streets, doing what he
thought the police and thejustice system couldn't or
wouldn't do.
On March 5th of 2023, pedro waskilled outside of a family
(16:04):
member's home.
The 68-year-old ex-killer'sthroat was slashed and sustained
multiple gunshot wounds fromassailants in a black car.
The suspects fled the sceneimmediately after, but police
later discovered the car thatthey had been driving, as well
as a stack of ammunition nearby.
The anonymous assailantsreportedly told Pedro's
(16:25):
relatives it's nothing to dowith you, take your daughter and
go inside.
It is still unknown who put anend to Pedro Rodriguez Viljo.
The case of Pedro RodriguezViljo will undoubtedly continue
to fascinate and disturbcriminologists, psychologists
and true crime enthusiasts foryears to come.
(16:45):
This case serves as a starkreminder of the darkness that
can lurk within the human souland the complex moral quandaries
posed by those who take justiceinto their own hands.
In the end, we are left witheven more questions than answers
about this case, about thenature of justice, morality and
the human capacity for both goodand evil.
(17:07):
The line between fact andfiction can sometimes blur, but
the real-world consequences ofPedro's actions were all too
real for his victims and theirfamilies.
Before I leave, I just want toremind everybody out there that
while stories like Pedro's mayinspire fiction, the reality of
such crimes is far fromentertaining.
(17:27):
So don't forget to be weird,stay different and don't trust
anyone.
Alrighty, so it's that time,guys, to say goodbye, but before
I do so, I just want to send athank you to all of my listeners
(17:48):
for your continued love andsupport and for sending in cases
that you want covered andstories that you want read on
the podcast.
We truly accept all stories,including scary, paranormal and
funny.
Any cases you want covered orstories that you want read on
the podcast.
Just please send them in todarkcrossroadspodcasts at
gmailcom.
Thank you for hanging out againtoday, and if you want any more
(18:10):
information about the podcast orcases and stories that we cover
, then head on over to thewebsite at
wwwdarkcrossroadspodcastcom.
There you can find all of theinformation about the podcast, a
link to our merch and also ourblog covering all of the cases
that we cover.
You can also find us on allsocial media platforms.
(18:31):
Don't forget to like, share,rate, review, subscribe wherever
you're listening to us.
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you to our subscription page andwith that you will get bonus
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Every single dollar that comesthrough donations or through our
(18:52):
subscription goes straight intothe podcast, helping fund
research, and it really helps usout and keeps this podcast
going.
And with all of this said,please don't forget to be weird,
stay different and don't trustanyone.
Thank you.
Welcome to Dark Crossroads Podcast, hosted by
Roxanne Fletcher.
This is your stop for allthings true crime and paranormal
.
From the infamous story of theNew Bedford Highway Killer to
the chilling tale of the BlackEyed Children, dark Crossroads
Podcast is a truly deep diveinto the stories that frighten
and fascinate you.
All links to the show will beprovided in this episode's
(01:33):
description, and don't forget tolet us know what you think of
today's episode.
Hey guys, welcome back toanother episode of Dark
Crossroads, where you get tohang out with me, roxanne, as we
delve into the most chillingtrue crime stories from around
(01:54):
the world.
Today's case we are going to beexploring the twisted tale of a
man known as the Killer ofKillers, pedro Rodrigues Vilho.
Our story begins on June 17thof 1954.
Vilho Our story begins on June17th of 1954.
In a small town in Brazil, pedroRodriguez Vilho entered the
(02:15):
world with violence alreadyetched into his destiny.
It was reported that his skullwas injured during his birth
when his father, in a fit ofrage, decided to beat Pedro's
pregnant mother.
This early trauma may have setthe stage for the shocking life
that was to follow.
In most cases, pedro targetedvarious kinds of criminals,
finding them by looking up theirnames and addresses before
(02:37):
brutally killing them in avariety of ways.
Though he stated that hisfavorite way to murder criminals
was stabbing and or hackingthem to death with blades, he
was usually spurred to act afterhearing a crime was committed.
In some instances, he wouldcapture criminals, mostly career
criminals or drug dealers, andhe would torture them to death
(02:57):
whenever he was motivated byanger instead of thrill.
On occasion, he would changehis MO by adopting the MO
previously used by his victimsduring the commission of their
own crimes, such as when hekilled his father or when he
killed seven people in a singleday.
He has been described bypsychiatrists as the perfect
(03:18):
psychopath, though others preferto classify him as a sociopath
instead.
A psychological reportdiagnosed Rodriguez with
paranoid and antisocial traits.
Criminologists and writerssuggest that Pedro was an
avenger or vigilante.
They labeled him as this typeof serial killer with great
(03:39):
intelligence and an almostphotographic memory, who built
all of his identity over hismurders.
But to understand Pedro, weneed to understand the world
that he was born into.
1950s, brazil was a country intransition, grappling with rapid
urbanization, politicalinstability and widespread
poverty.
It was a breeding ground forcrime and violence, especially
(04:03):
in the impoverished rural areasthat Pedro would grow up in.
His childhood was marked byabuse and neglect.
His father, an alcoholic schoolguard, was known for his
violent temper.
Young Pedro witnessed domesticviolence on a regular basis,
which undoubtedly shaped hisperception of the world and his
place inside of it.
(04:24):
The next few years saw Pedro'sviolence escalate at an alarming
rate.
At the age of only 18, he hadalready killed 10 people.
But it wasn't just the numberof his victims that was shocking
, it was his method of selectingthem.
Pedro began to target othercriminals, particularly those he
deemed more reprehensible thanhimself.
(04:45):
Those that were drug dealers,rapists and murderers became his
preferred victims.
He developed a twisted code ofethics, seeing himself as a
vigilante cleaning up thestreets.
Pedro was unlike any killerthat anybody had encountered at
this time.
He wasn't motivated by money orsexual desires.
He killed because he genuinelybelieved that he was doing the
(05:07):
right thing.
It was as if he appointedhimself judge, jury and
executioner.
This modus operandi earnedPedro the nickname the killer of
killers.
He would often track down knowncriminals.
He would study their routinesand then he would strike with
ruthless efficiency.
In some cases he would eveninfiltrate criminal
(05:28):
organizations, gaining theirtrust before systematically
eliminating members he deemedworthy of death.
Pedro's approach was methodicaland, in his mind, justified.
He saw himself as a sort ofavenging angel ridding society
of its worst elements.
This delusion of righteousnessmade him particularly dangerous,
(05:49):
as he felt no remorse for hisactions.
One of Pedro's most notoriouskills occurred in 1977, when he
tracked down a drug lordresponsible for multiple deaths.
Pedro spent weeks gatheringintelligence, posing as a
low-level dealer to get close tohis target.
In a brutal display of hisskills, he eliminated not just
(06:10):
the drug lord but also four ofhis bodyguards in a single night
.
But his crusade againstcriminals wasn't limited to the
streets.
Even after his arrest andimprisonment, he continued his
mission behind bars, targetinginmates he considered
irredeemable.
A former prison guard statedthat Pedro had an uncanny
ability to identify the worstoffenders in the prison
(06:33):
population.
He would befriend them, learntheir stories and then, if he
deemed them unworthy of life, hewould strike.
Many inmates actually feltsafer with Pedro around,
believing that he was cleaningup the prison.
Pedro's reign of terror on thestreets came to an end in 1973,
when he was finally apprehendedby the authorities.
He was sentenced to 128 yearsin prison, but for Pedro this
(06:57):
was far from the end of hisstory.
The confines of a cell didnothing to curb his violent
tendencies.
While incarcerated, he killedat least 47 fellow inmates,
always targeting those that hedeemed worse than himself.
He saw himself as a force ofrighteousness within the prison
system.
He had an uncanny ability tocharm both inmates and the
(07:18):
guards, while simultaneouslyinstilling fear in those he
targeted.
He was soon seen as a trulydangerous individual.
As I dove deeper into Pedro'sstory, I started realizing that
it is crucial to examine thebroader implications of his
actions and the system thatultimately failed to contain him
.
Also, pedro's case raisestroubling questions about the
(07:40):
effectiveness of the Brazilianprison system.
How was he able to continuekilling even while incarcerated,
and what does this say aboutthe ability of the system to
rehabilitate offenders or evensimply to contain them?
A prison guard from thefacility that Pedro was being
held in stated Pedro was alwaysone step ahead.
He knew how to manipulate thesystem, how to get weapons, how
(08:03):
to choose his moments.
The other inmates wereterrified of him and even some
of the guards were weary.
It was like he ran the placefrom the deep shadows While in
prison.
Police records show that he wasonce transported in a vehicle
with another prisoner, both ofthem being handcuffed During
this transport.
Pedro had killed the otherinmate without police noticing
(08:24):
when they opened the car doorand saw the other prisoner was
dead.
Pedro said that he did itbecause the man was a rapist.
His desire for vengeance took anew target, however, when his
father murdered his mother witha machete.
Incarcerated in the same prison, pedro devised a plan to get
revenge for his mother, hestated.
(09:09):
This aspect of Pedro's criminalcareer a killer who targets
other killers has captured thepublic imagination and even
influenced popular culture,which brings us to an
interesting connection the hitTV show Dexter.
Many of our listeners may befamiliar with the popular TV
series.
Listeners may be familiar withthe popular TV series which
aired from 2006 to 2013.
(09:30):
The show follows Dexter Morgan,a forensic blood spatter
analysis for the Miami MetroPolice Department, who leads a
secret double life as avigilante serial killer,
targeting other murderers whohave evaded the justice system.
While Dexter is a work offiction, it is interesting to
note that the character ofDexter Morgan was loosely
(09:51):
inspired by real-life killerswho targeted other killers, and
Pedro just happened to be one ofthose primary influences.
Like Pedro, dexter is a serialkiller who targets other killers
, operating under a twistedmoral code that justifies murder
as a means of cleansing society.
While Dexter is a fictionalcharacter, it is interesting to
(10:12):
note that his creation wasloosely inspired by real-life
killers who targeted othercriminals, and Pedro was one of
those primary influences.
The author of the Dexter bookseries, on which the TV show was
based, has mentioned ininterviews that he was
fascinated by the concept ofkillers who targeted other
killers.
While he didn't base Dexterentirely on Pedro, the Brazilian
(10:36):
killer's story did play a rolein shaping the character.
The parallels between Pedro andthe fictional Dexter are quite
striking.
Both have a traumatic childhoodthat shaped their violent
tendencies.
Both developed a code of ethicsthat, while twisted, provided a
framework for their killings,and both saw themselves as a
(10:57):
force for good despite theirbrutal methods.
However, it is crucial to notethe significance between Pedro
and Dexter.
While Dexter is portrayed as asympathetic anti-hero with a
strict moral code, pedro'sreal-life actions were far more
chaotic and indiscriminate.
Dexter is a fictional characterdesigned to explore complex
(11:18):
moral questions, while Pedro wasa real person who caused
genuine harm and suffering.
The popularity of characterslike Dexter shows a cultural
fascination with the idea of badpeople being punished outside
the constraints of the law.
It's a fantasy of justice beingserved when the system fails,
but it's crucial to rememberthat, in reality, vigilante
(11:40):
killers like Pedro cause immenseharm and create cycles of
violence and create cycles ofviolence.
The Dexter connection raisesinteresting questions about how
society perceives vigilantejustice and the concept of good
killers.
It's a testament to the complexemotions Pedro's case awakens a
mixture of revulsion at hiscrimes and a grudging
(12:03):
fascination with his twistedsense of justice.
Pedro presents a fascinatingcase study in the world of
criminal psychology.
He doesn't fit neatly in atypical understanding of serial
killers.
His targeting of othercriminals and his twisted sense
of morality sets him apart.
In some ways, he's reminiscentof the fictional character
(12:23):
Dexter, a killer who only killsthose that he deems deserving of
death.
But unlike a fictionalcharacter, pedro's actions had
real, devastating consequences.
Each of his victims, regardlessof their crimes, left behind
families and loved ones.
The ripple effects of hisactions spread far and wide,
leaving a trail of trauma andgrief.
(12:46):
In a twist that shocked many,pedro was released from prison
in 2018 due to a Brazilian lawthat prohibited prisoners from
serving more than 30 years.
After decades behind bars, thekiller of killers was back on
the streets.
This development sparkedoutrage and fear in Brazil.
How can a man responsible forpotentially over 100 deaths be
(13:09):
allowed to walk free?
What does this say about theconcepts of justice and
rehabilitation?
Pedro's release highlighted theflaws in our justice system.
While the law is designed toprevent inhumane life sentences,
it failed to account forexceptional cases like Pedro's.
It raised serious questionsabout public safety and the
purpose of incarceration.
However, like Pedro's, itraised serious questions about
public safety and the purpose ofincarceration.
(13:31):
However, pedro's freedom wasshort-lived.
In 2020, he was arrested againon charges of involvement with
organized crime, suggesting thathis time in prison had done
very little to change hiscriminal tendencies.
While exploring Pedro's life andhis crimes, more questions than
answers surfaced.
His story forces us to confrontuncomfortable truths about the
(13:53):
human nature, justice and thethin line between good and evil
less evil.
Does his twisted sense ofjustice mitigate his crimes in
any way, and what does it sayabout our society that such a
prolific killer could eventuallywalk free?
(14:14):
His case is a stark reminder ofthe complexities of criminal
psychology.
It highlights the need for morenuanced approaches to justice
and rehabilitation.
It also underscores theimportance of addressing the
root causes of violence insociety, poverty, abuse and lack
of mental health support.
His story serves as a chillingcautionary tale.
(14:36):
It reminds us of the darknessthat can lurk within the human
soul and the devastatingconsequences when that darkness
is allowed to flourish flourish.
Now that I've covered thebroader aspect of Pedro's life
and crimes, I wanted to take acloser look at what earned him
the chilling moniker the killerof killers.
Pedro's victims weren't chosenat random.
(14:57):
He specifically targetedindividuals that he deemed to be
criminals themselves Drugdealers, rapists, murderers and
other violent offenders.
This peculiar code of ethicsset him apart from other serial
killers and added a complexlayer to his already
controversial legacy.
Pedro's focus on killing othercriminals stems from a warped
(15:19):
sense of justice.
In his mind, he was performinga service to society by
eliminating those that heconsidered to be the worst
offenders.
This delusion of righteousnessmade him particularly dangerous,
as he felt no remorse for hisactions.
Pedro's methods were ascalculated as they were brutal.
He would often spend weeks,sometimes months, tracking his
(15:40):
intended victims.
He would study their routines,infiltrate their circles and
strike when they least expectedit.
His precision was terrifying.
He didn't just kill people, heexecuted.
Each murder was like a missionfor him.
He saw himself as cleaning upthe streets, doing what he
thought the police and thejustice system couldn't or
wouldn't do.
On March 5th of 2023, pedro waskilled outside of a family
(16:04):
member's home.
The 68-year-old ex-killer'sthroat was slashed and sustained
multiple gunshot wounds fromassailants in a black car.
The suspects fled the sceneimmediately after, but police
later discovered the car thatthey had been driving, as well
as a stack of ammunition nearby.
The anonymous assailantsreportedly told Pedro's
(16:25):
relatives it's nothing to dowith you, take your daughter and
go inside.
It is still unknown who put anend to Pedro Rodriguez Viljo.
The case of Pedro RodriguezViljo will undoubtedly continue
to fascinate and disturbcriminologists, psychologists
and true crime enthusiasts foryears to come.
(16:45):
This case serves as a starkreminder of the darkness that
can lurk within the human souland the complex moral quandaries
posed by those who take justiceinto their own hands.
In the end, we are left witheven more questions than answers
about this case, about thenature of justice, morality and
the human capacity for both goodand evil.
(17:07):
The line between fact andfiction can sometimes blur, but
the real-world consequences ofPedro's actions were all too
real for his victims and theirfamilies.
Before I leave, I just want toremind everybody out there that
while stories like Pedro's mayinspire fiction, the reality of
such crimes is far fromentertaining.
(17:27):
So don't forget to be weird,stay different and don't trust
anyone.
Alrighty, so it's that time,guys, to say goodbye, but before
I do so, I just want to send athank you to all of my listeners
(17:48):
for your continued love andsupport and for sending in cases
that you want covered andstories that you want read on
the podcast.
We truly accept all stories,including scary, paranormal and
funny.
Any cases you want covered orstories that you want read on
the podcast.
Just please send them in todarkcrossroadspodcasts at
gmailcom.
Thank you for hanging out againtoday, and if you want any more
(18:10):
information about the podcast orcases and stories that we cover
, then head on over to thewebsite at
wwwdarkcrossroadspodcastcom.
There you can find all of theinformation about the podcast, a
link to our merch and also ourblog covering all of the cases
that we cover.
You can also find us on allsocial media platforms.
(18:31):
Don't forget to like, share,rate, review, subscribe wherever
you're listening to us.
You can subscribe to thepodcast for bonus information.
There is a link in all episodesin the notes that we'll send
you to our subscription page andwith that you will get bonus
content, discount on futuremerch and a lot of extra goodies
.
Every single dollar that comesthrough donations or through our
(18:52):
subscription goes straight intothe podcast, helping fund
research, and it really helps usout and keeps this podcast
going.
And with all of this said,please don't forget to be weird,
stay different and don't trustanyone.
Thank you.
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