Francisco das Chagas Rodrigues de Brito was born in 1964 in Caxias, Maranhão, Brazil. Before becoming known for his terrible crimes, Chagas worked as a miner and later as a mechanic. For over ten years, he lived in the town of Altamira, in Pará, before moving back to Maranhão.

From 1989 to 2003, a series of brutal crimes involving young boys occurred in the Brazilian states of Maranhão and Pará. The victims were aged 4 to 15 years old. Francisco das Chagas became the main suspect when a boy named Jonathan dos Santos disappeared in December 2003 in São Luís, Maranhão. Jonathan had told someone he planned to meet Chagas before vanishing.

Police arrested Chagas in December 2003. During a search of his home, investigators found human bones and body parts belonging to missing boys. Chagas confessed to killing Jonathan and at least 16 other boys in Maranhão between 1997 and 2003. He also admitted to similar crimes in Altamira, Pará, committed between 1989 and 1993.

His method was to lure poor boys, sexually assault them, and then mutilate their bodies after death. He often removed parts of their bodies to hide evidence. In total, he was linked to the murders and mutilations of 42 boys.

Chagas was convicted in court and received a total prison sentence of 580 years for multiple murders, abuse of corpses, and hiding evidence. His case caused international outrage, leading to criticism of Brazil's justice system and its failure to protect vulnerable children.