The Brazilian Dexter: The Haunting Tale of Pedro Rodrigues Filho

In the shadowy corridors of Brazil’s criminal history walks a man whose story is both terrifying and oddly compelling. Pedro Rodrigues Filho, better known as Pedrinho Matador or "Killer Petey", stands as one of the most infamous vigilante killers the world has ever known. What sets him apart isn’t just the staggering number of murders attributed to him—71 confirmed, possibly more—but the peculiar morality he followed in choosing his victims.

Pedro’s life of violence began early. At just 14 years old, he committed his first murder, an act that would shape the brutal path ahead. The victim? A local deputy mayor who had accused Pedro’s father of stealing food from the school kitchen where he worked. Pedro believed the accusation had ruined his father’s life—and possibly his own. Driven by anger and a thirst for justice, the teenage Pedro shot the official in cold blood. But that wasn’t the end. Shortly after, he tracked down the real thief—the man who had actually committed the crime—and killed him as well.

After these early acts of vengeance, Pedro fled to São Paulo, seeking refuge in Brazil’s sprawling urban chaos. But instead of fading into anonymity, he found himself sinking deeper into violence. There, he killed a drug dealer, clashed with criminal gangs, and eliminated several thieves. This wasn’t random mayhem—Pedro was on a mission. He believed he was cleansing the world of evil.

Despite his thirst for blood, Pedro tried, briefly, to step away from crime. He found love and began to imagine a different life. But this fragile dream shattered when his girlfriend was murdered by gang members. That loss pushed him past the point of no return. He unleashed a wave of violent retribution, torturing and killing anyone who had a hand in her death—or even stood in his way. Pedro wasn’t just avenging her; he was making a statement.

But perhaps the darkest chapter of his life came with the murder of his own father. While serving time in prison, Pedro learned that his father had killed his mother with a machete. Consumed by rage, he waited. When given the chance, he visited his father—also in prison—and stabbed him 22 times. Not content with that, Pedro then cut out a piece of his father’s heart and chewed it. It was his own grotesque version of justice.

Pedro was arrested in 1973, and his criminal saga didn’t end there. While being transported to jail, he killed a rapist in the police van. Once inside prison walls, he continued his crusade, murdering 47 more inmates. Some were rapists, others were murderers—but not all had committed grave offenses. Some were killed simply because they snored too loudly or Pedro didn’t like their faces.

He once claimed that his favorite method of killing was with a knife, savoring the slow and personal nature of the act. In prison, he became a legend—a man feared not only by inmates but by guards and even prison officials. His name carried weight, and his actions were a chilling reminder of how prison walls can’t contain a man fueled by rage and twisted principles.

Pedro’s sentence was extended repeatedly, ultimately reaching 400 years due to his continued killings behind bars. Yet, in a strange twist, he was released in 2007 after serving just 34 years, thanks to changes in Brazilian law that limit the time a person can be imprisoned, regardless of the crimes committed.

After his release, Pedro made headlines by claiming he had changed his ways. He even launched a YouTube channel, talking about crime, his past, and giving advice to young people about not following his path. The once-feared killer now appeared on camera in a simple shirt, warning others of the darkness he had lived through.

While some see Pedro Rodrigues Filho as a monster, others view him as a twisted form of justice—a real-life antihero who killed the wicked. Regardless of where one stands, one thing is certain: his story is a chilling journey through the extremes of morality, revenge, and violence.