Pedro Rodrigues Filho, also known as Pedrinho Matador or “Killer Pete,” was a notorious serial killer in his country and a source of inspiration for a complex anti-hero on television. He claimed responsibility for more than 100 deaths over five decades but was officially convicted of 71 murders.
Having spent over 40 years in prison, he developed a reputation as a modern-day “Robin Hood,” targeting drug traffickers, gang members, and other criminals. Born on October 29, 1954, in a rural town in Brazil, his life was marred by violence from the beginning due to a tragic incident involving his parents before his birth.
Pedro’s exposure to violence at a young age influenced his future actions, as he revealed in interviews. At just nine years old, he ran away from home and eventually ended up in São Paulo, where he began a life of crime and vagrancy. By his early teens, he claimed to have committed his first murder, sparking a series of violent acts that would define his criminal career.
His pattern of violence continued as he grew older, culminating in the killing of a local drug dealer in São Paulo during his teenage years. Seeking vengeance, he also murdered the dealer’s brother and brother-in-law. Pedro admitted that these early murders fueled his sense of power, targeting individuals he believed had committed wrongdoings.
Moving to the outskirts of São Paulo in his late teens, Pedro became involved in the local drug trade, taking over operations from a widow named Botinha. When Botinha was killed by the police, Pedro sought retribution by targeting those he blamed for her death.
His spree of violence came to an end in 1973 when he was captured at the age of 18, having left a trail of bodies behind him. Despite receiving a 128-year prison sentence, he continued to kill fellow inmates, leading to an escalation of his sentence.
While in prison, Pedrinho Matador gained notoriety for his numerous killings, often targeting those convicted of violent crimes. He justified his actions by claiming to only eliminate those he deemed unworthy of life, branding himself as a pleasure-seeking killer.
In his twenties, Pedro claimed to have murdered his own father in retribution for the brutal killing of his mother. By the mid-1980s, he was responsible for the deaths of over 40 inmates within a high-security prison in Brazil, earning a reputation for his composed demeanor and confidence.
Released in 2007 due to legal constraints on prison terms in Brazil, Pedro spent a total of 34 years behind bars by that time. Despite attempts to reform and embrace Christianity, he found himself back in prison for involvement in a riot, though he was released once more in 2018, claiming to have changed his ways.
Pedro’s life took a tragic turn on March 5, 2023, when he was gunned down outside a relative’s house in Mogi das Cruzes. His violent demise at the age of 68 drew international attention, drawing comparisons to fictional characters inspired by his unique moral code of dispensing justice.
His story, marked by a legacy of violence and redemption, served as an inspiration for various media adaptations, including the character of Dexter in Jeff Lindsay’s novel and subsequent TV series. Despite his troubled past, Pedro’s tale remains a cautionary reminder of the destructive nature of crime and the importance of seeking redemption.