Dom Phillips: Human remains confirmed as missing British journalist at Amazon – World News

Human remains found in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have been confirmed as missing British journalist Dom Phillips, who disappeared along with indigenous expert Bruno Pereira

Human remains found deep in the Amazon rainforest have been confirmed as missing British journalist Dom Phillips.

An autopsy used dental records to match the discovery to the 57-year-old freelance writer.

He disappeared along with indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, 41, earlier this month.

In recent days, police have been led to the site where the couple were allegedly shot and dismembered.

Officials in Brazil say Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira – nicknamed Pelado – confessed to the crime.

However, investigators have declined to give any further details about the suspect or how he allegedly killed the couple.

His brother Oseney da Costa de Oliveira was also arrested.

On Friday, police said the two men acted alone and did not carry out the killings under orders from above.

Phillips and Pereira disappeared on June 5 while traveling in the Javari Valley in far western Amazonas state.

They were last seen in the municipality of Sao Rafael, a two-hour boat ride from the town of Atalaia do Norte.

They had been accompanying an indigenous patrol in the Itaquaí River organized to prevent invasions by illegal fishermen and hunters into the indigenous lands of the Javari Valley.

The grim discovery of the bodies ended a 10-day search involving the army, navy and police in the country’s far west.

Detective Eduardo Fontes told journalists the “first suspect” – Amarildo – “detailed the crime committed and indicated the place where he buried the bodies.”

His brother denies any involvement.

Phillips and Pereira disappeared while researching for a book project on conservation efforts in the area.

The work was titled How to Save the Amazon.

Authorities have described the area as “complicated” and “dangerous” and known to be home to illegal miners, loggers and international drug traffickers.

The couple had reportedly received death threats just days before they disappeared.

Blood was previously found on Pelado’s boat and is currently being analyzed.

Now that the bodies have been identified, they “will be returned to the families of the two,” said Brazil’s Justice Minister Anderson Torres.

At a press conference in the Amazon city of Manaus, he continued: “We found the bodies three kilometers (almost two miles) deep in the forest.”

Mr Torres said officers traveled about an hour and 40 minutes by boat down a river and another 25 minutes into the forest to reach the burial site.

“Without the confession, we would have no way of getting to this place quickly,” Mr. Torres said Wednesday of the recovery of their bodies.

The deep rainforest area where they disappeared has recently faced violent clashes between fishermen, poachers and government agents.

Mr Phillips was a distinguished freelance foreign correspondent and regular contributor to The Guardian, and Mr Pereira was a distinguished former advocate for Brazilian indigenous peoples.

In a statement, Mr Phillips’ wife, Alessandra Sampaio, said: “This tragic result ends the agony of not knowing Dom and Bruno’s whereabouts.

“Now we can take her home and say goodbye in love.”