Roberto Wagner Fernandes was born on April 26, 1965, in Londrina, Brazil. He grew up in a typical Brazilian family. Not much is known about his childhood or early education, but he later became a licensed pilot. When he was an adult, he married Danyelle Amaral Bouças, a teacher. They had a daughter together and lived in Londrina.

On November 18, 1996, an argument between Roberto and Danyelle escalated quickly. Neighbors heard gunshots and called the police. Authorities later learned that Roberto had shot Danyelle during this dispute. Though he claimed it was accidental, he was arrested and charged with her murder. Roberto went to trial, but he was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

After the trial, there were rumors that Danyelle's family was angry and wanted revenge. Fearing for his safety, Roberto moved to Miami, Florida, in search of a new life. In the United States, he worked various jobs, including as a bus driver and a flight attendant. During his time in Miami, he continued to see prostitutes regularly.

Roberto's life took a tragic turn on December 13, 2005. He was flying a plane when it crashed in Paraguay. He died in the accident and was later buried in his hometown of Londrina.

On the early morning of November 18, 1996, in Londrina, Brazil, a domestic dispute occurred in the apartment of Roberto Wagner Fernandes and his wife, Danyelle Amaral Bouças Fernandes. Neighbors heard the altercation, which escalated into gunshots. After at least six shots were fired, the police were called, and Fernandes fled the scene with their 5-year-old daughter. Officers soon arrested him. He had shot Danyelle with a handgun. She was taken to the hospital but died from her injuries shortly afterward.

During the trial, it was revealed that Danyelle had caught Fernandes cheating on her with a prostitute. Fernandes claimed that Danyelle had threatened to shoot him, which caused him to panic and accidentally fire his gun. However, prosecutors presented testimony from a prostitute who alleged that rather than a panic attack, Fernandes had previously tried to kill her. This woman stated that he had been using drugs and alcohol during their encounter and had assaulted her.

Despite the evidence and testimonies against him, Roberto was acquitted due to lack of concrete evidence. Following the trial, Danyelle's family members were reportedly so upset that they hired a hitman to kill him. Afraid for his safety, Fernandes moved to Miami, Florida.

Between 1996 and 1999, Fernandes worked as a bus driver and flight attendant while continuing to use prostitution services. On June 24, 2000, a suitcase containing the body of a 35-year-old woman named Kim Dietz-Livesey was discovered by the roadside. She had a history of substance abuse and had been arrested for prostitution shortly before her death. The case went cold as police struggled to find leads.

Again, on August 9, 2000, a duffel bag was found near Dania Beach, containing the body of another woman, Sia Demas, who had been strangled. Months later, on August 30, 2001, the body of Jessica Good was found floating in Biscayne Bay. She had gone missing after meeting with a man who matched the description of Roberto.

Once Jessica's body was recovered, Fernandes became a suspect. Before he could be arrested, he fled back to Brazil, where he remained for five years. During this time, he was also linked to other violent crimes against women in Brazil, including a rape in 2003.

On December 13, 2005, Fernandes died in a plane crash in Paraguay while flying a Cessna 310. He was buried in his hometown. In 2011, investigators matched his fingerprints to the crime scenes in Miami, which led them to attempt to question him in Brazil. They were informed that he had died in the crash.

For several years, the investigations were paused until developments in an unrelated murder case in Brazil permitted authorities to exhumed Fernandes' grave in 2020. On August 31, 2021, reports confirmed that Roberto Wagner Fernandes had been identified as the killer of the three women in Miami. Investigators in both countries have since pursued his past for further potential crimes, believing he may have been responsible for more than what he was connected to.