Suspect in nun’s murder surrendered to police

A suspect in the murder of a U.S. nun in rural Brazil last week surrendered to police Feb.19.

Sr. Dorothy Stang of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur was born in the United States but became a naturalized Brazilian. She had lived near the town of Anapu for more than 20 years and worked in advocacy to protect the rain forest and peasant workers before she was shot to death Feb. 12. Officials have linked her brutal murder to her advocacy work.

Amair Freijoli da Cunha turned himself in Saturday. Police allege he was the middleman who hired two gunmen to kill the 73-year-old nun.

Police allege that rancher Vitamiro Goncalves Moura was the one who ordered the murder. But da Cunha denied that Moura was involved.

The search is still on for suspected gunman, Rayfran das Neves Sales, who was identified by witnesses. Federal police believe he and the second gunman are hiding in the dense forest.

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