Brazilian Wanted in Nun’s Slaying Surrenders

The rancher accused of ordering the slaying of American nun Dorothy Stang surrendered to police Sunday, authorities said.

Vitalmiro Moura, known as Bida, was taken into custody after turning himself in to federal police in Altamira, about 80 miles from where 73-year-old Stang was fatally shot Feb. 12, police said. Moura had been a fugitive since an arrest warrant was issued for him Feb. 15.

Moura initially told police he was not involved with the killing, but two suspected gunmen, who were arrested shortly after the slaying, have said before a judge that the rancher told them to kill Stang.

Amair Feijoli, whom police accuse of acting as a middleman by offering the gunmen about $18,000 to kill the nun, first said that Moura had ordered the hit but later recanted that testimony and said he alone ordered the killing.

Officials had said ballistics tests linked a revolver found on Moura’s ranch with the four bullets recovered from Stang’s body.

During the interrogation in Belem, the capital of Para state, Moura said he surrendered so he could prove his innocence, police said. He said that he had no motive to kill Stang and that he was probably set up by the gunmen.

“I’m not guilty. I don’t have anything to do with this crime,” Moura told reporters after being interrogated late Sunday.

Stang, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, wanted a stretch of rain forest to be declared part of a sustainable development project for poor settlers. Moura allegedly has wanted to develop and log the area.