One of the saddest and strangest chapters in MMA history has moved a little closer to closure.
According to a report from the Rio de Janeiro state government (h/t Fighters Only) on Monday, police in Rio de Janeiro arrested Leonardo Luiz Batista on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering Priscila Belfort, sister of current UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort
Priscila Belfort was kidnapped in 2004 and never seen again. In 2007, one of the kidnappers, Elaine Paiva, was arrested and confessed to murdering Belfort, along with several accomplices. Paiva also alleged that Priscila Belfort‘s body had been burned and buried following the murder. The body has never been found.
In February, the police began following new leads regarding the kidnapping. In March, they arrested Leandro Ferreira Fernandes for participating in Belfort‘s kidnapping and killing.
Batista is the latest in a string of arrests in the case. Paiva previously noted that the kidnapping was done with the goal of raising ransom money to resolve a debt with a drug dealer.
Belfort has previously credited the tragedy with motivating him to become a born-again Christian.
Kidnapping for ransom is a relatively common crime in Central and South America, particularly for celebrities and their relatives.
Most recently, in March the family of Detroit Tigers pitcher Brayan Villareal was nearly kidnapped at gunpoint. In 2011 Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped in Venezuela, though he was later released alive and well.
In 2005, the mother of former major-league pitcher Ugueth Urbina was also kidnapped and later rescued, also in Venezuela. Celebrated soccer coach Ruben Omar Romano was abducted in Mexico, also in 2005.
In 2002, the sisters of famous Mexican singer Thalia were kidnapped in Mexico City, and were later released. In 2003, former Miss Venezuela Veruska Ramirez was abducted and released three hours later after signing several autographs for her kidnappers.
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