Who is the main suspect in the death of an American gallerist in Rio

The main suspect in the death of North American gallerist Brent Sikkema, found dead on the 14th, in Rio de Janeiro, is described by defense lawyer, Greg Andrade, as “someone extremely polished, well educated and well trained”.

“He is a person who does not drink, according to him, who does not use drugs, neither legal nor illegal”, said the lawyer.

According to Andrade, Alejandro Triana Prevez, 30, revealed that he has a master's degree in veterinary medicine and worked in Cuba as a university professor and writing academic texts. Fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese, Prevez would have come to Brazil after the death of his mother, who died of cancer here during the pandemic, to study and “make a new life”.

Single and childless, the man, who has been in prison since the 18th, also stated that he has served in the Cuban Special Forces and written three books, one of which has been published. On the internet, it is possible to find a work called “Grey Reflections of Love”, in free translation, which promises, in 92 pages, to address the author's experiences.

Also according to the report, made at the Gericinó Penitentiary Complex, in Bangu, in the west zone of Rio, Prevez had already been to the capital of Rio de Janeiro at least twice, when, according to him, he acted as a tourist guide. In São Paulo, where he claims to be living, the Cuban says he worked as a construction worker, in addition to using the car that appears in the images analyzed by the Civil Police from the day of the crime to make deliveries to online commerce sites.

The vehicle would have been borrowed by a woman he calls “godmother” and it was precisely through the license plate of this car that the police reached the suspect. He was arrested at a gas station, in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, on January 18th. About 3 thousand dollars were found on him. In a statement to the police, already in Rio, Prevez denied any involvement in the gallery owner's death.

However, the monitoring cameras at the Jardim Botânico, in the south zone of Rio, analyzed by the Homicide Police, indicated that the death of the owner of the art gallery in New York was premeditated. The images already showed the suspect's car driving around the region where the victim's property is located around 14 hours before the crime.

The driver of the vehicle was also spotted traveling through streets neighboring the gallery owner's address and, later, entering the Sikkema property, where he remained for around 14 minutes before leaving. Sikkema was found dead with at least 18 knife wounds in the property he owned in the south zone of Rio.

Relationship with Sikkema

According to the lawyer, Prevez confirmed that he maintained a professional relationship with the victim, as he acted as a kind of “handyman” in one of the gallery owner's properties, in Cuba. He was reportedly hired by a cousin of Sikkema's husband.

Prevez, however, denied any type of romantic relationship with the North American.

The suspect said he has more information to pass on to investigators in the case. Therefore, the defense is trying to schedule a new hearing for next Tuesday (30), in which Prevez intends to change the initial version presented to the Police.

“He, when confronted, not confronted, but when saying the evidence that the police already had, he reevaluated and already asked to be able to even make contact with the Police Station, as he would like to be heard again. And so it was done and we immediately left there and immediately went to the Police Station. I spoke to the Chief Inspector and he promptly said that it would be possible, that it would be viable”, said Andrade.