Authorities in Massachusetts have arrested a Brazilian national in the U.S. illegally after he allegedly confessed to killing a woman in her home, according to local and federal officials.
Flavio Alcantara Dias, 43, is accused of strangling 33-year-old Brianna Connolly in Framingham last Thursday. Investigators say Dias called 911 himself, telling the dispatcher he had “ended up killing a woman by mistake.”
In the call, which was recounted by Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brandt, Dias reportedly said, “Can I have police? A homicide just happened here right now.” He went on to state, “I ended up killing a woman by mistake,” adding, “I went crazy and suffocated her later on.” He also explicitly said he strangled Connolly, according to Boston 25.
Details Emerge from 911 Call and Police Observations
Dias reportedly told dispatchers that he and Connolly were using drugs at her home when an argument broke out. He claimed the dispute was over his desire to have sex, which she refused. After the argument, Dias said he fell asleep and woke up to find Connolly not breathing. He then called police and waited outside for them to arrive, as reported by Boston 25.
When first responders arrived, they pronounced Connolly dead at the scene. In court, Prosecutor Brandt described what police observed: “She’s got blood marks on her forehead and also on the back of her head.” He added that investigators also found “a small cord or fabric-y cord around her neck.”
Brandt said the physical evidence at the scene was “entirely consistent with the account and description that the defendant has given.”
Immigration History and Prior Arrests
Federal records show that Dias originally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2019. Under the Biden administration, an immigration judge granted Dias’s motion to terminate his deportation proceedings in 2024, according to Fox News. The termination of those proceedings halted his removal from the country.
Before this incident, Dias had prior arrests for DUI and aggravated assault, Fox News reported.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer on Dias, requesting that Framingham Police transfer him to federal custody if he is released from local charges.
Federal Response and Local Custody
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement regarding Dias’s case, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between local and federal law enforcement.
“The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers,” the department said. “Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE. We are urging the Framingham Police Department to participate in a controlled transfer of this criminal illegal alien to get him out of our communities once and for all.”
DHS added: “Our message is clear: if you come into our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you.”
Dias is currently being held without bail, according to Boston 25. He faces charges of assault and battery causing serious bodily harm and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
The case has reignited debates over immigration enforcement and the handling of deportation proceedings for individuals with criminal records. Supporters of stricter enforcement have pointed to the incident as a failure of the system, while immigration advocates often emphasize the complexities of individual cases.
Framingham Police have not yet publicly responded to DHS’s urging to cooperate with the detainer. The investigation is ongoing, and Dias’s next court appearance has not been announced.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-accused-of-strangling-a-woman-to-death-in-her-home