Federal authorities have arrested Flavio Alcantara Dias, a 43-year-old Brazilian immigrant, who is accused of strangling a woman to death in her Massachusetts home. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Dias is an illegal immigrant who was released into the United States during the Biden administration, despite having a criminal history that includes previous arrests for DUI and aggravated assault.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Dias entered the United States illegally in April 2019. In October 2024, an immigration judge granted his motion to terminate immigration hearings based on a technicality, concluding his immigration case despite his unlawful presence and criminal record. Following this, he was released into the country.
The DHS emphasized the importance of arrest detainers for removing criminal illegal aliens from communities, noting that seven of the top ten safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE. They urged the Framingham Police Department to facilitate the transfer of Dias to ensure community safety.
Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Brandt recounted a 911 call made by Dias following an altercation with 33-year-old Brianna Connolly. Brandt stated that Dias told the dispatcher, "Can I have police? A homicide just happened here right now," and later claimed, "I ended up killing a woman by mistake." He reportedly stated that he suffocated Connolly after an argument over drug use and sexual advances. Brandt noted that police found Connolly with visible injuries, including blood marks and a cord around her neck.