Lead Masks Case

The Lead Masks Case was the name given to the events which led to the death of two Brazilian electronic technicians: Manoel Pereira da Cruz and Miguel José Viana. Their bodies were discovered on August 20 1966. Some believed that UFOs and Extraterrestrials were involved on this case.

Sequence of Facts

Discovery

A boy named Jorge da Costa Alves (who was 18 at that time) was flying a kite at the Morro do Vintém (Vintém Hill), in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when he found two dead men. Immediately, he made his way back home and called the police. Soon the spot was full of police officers, firefighters and journalists.

The bodies were strewn next to each other, slightly covered by the grass. They were wearing suits, and over the suits, impermeable coats. There was no sign of violence to the bodies or the surrounding area. Next to the bodies, the police found an empty bottle of water and a packet containing two towels. However, what has really caught people's attention were the lead masks worn by them. These were typical masks used for protection from heat or radiation, and the case is named after them. To make things more complicated, the policemen found a small notebook with signs and numbers, and also a letter in which was written: "16:30 estar no local determinado. 18:30 ingerir cápsulas, após efeito proteger metais aguardar sinal máscara" (16:30 be at the agreed place. 18:30 swallow capsules, after effect protect metals wait for the mask sign).

Reconstruction

After an investigation, the detectives reconstructed a plausible narrative of the last days of both men. On August 17, both men left their city (Campos dos Goytacazes, or simply "Campos"), stating that they intended to buy some material for their job. Some witnesses claimed that they were carrying Cr$N2.300,00, but this money was not found.

They took a bus and arrived in Niterói at 14:30. They bought the impermeable coats at a small shop and the bottle of water at a bar. The waitress who served them on the bar stated that Miguel seemed very nervous and looked at his watch frequently. From the bar, they went directly to where both died.

Those facts convinced the detectives that some kind of extraterrestrial activity was involved. Gracinda Barbosa Cortino de Souza and her children, who live next to the hill where the men died, claimed that they had seen a UFO flying over the spot at the exact moment the detectives believe they had died.

Conclusion of the Case

The autopsy found no trace of toxic substances, nor any kind of injury. To date, the case remains open.

References

* [http://www.vigilia.com.br/sessao.php?categ=3&id=77 The lead masks case at Revista Vigília] pt icon
* [http://magonia.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/mboct66.htm The lead masks case at MUFORG - Merseyside Unidentified Flying Objects Research Group.]
* [http://www.infa.com.br/mascaras_de_chumbo.html The lead masks case at INFA – Instituto Nacional de Investigação de Fenômenos Aeroespaciais (National Institute of Aerospatiale Phenomenon Investigation)]

External links

* [http://www.vigilia.com.br/sessao.php?categ=3&id=77 The lead masks case at Revista Vigília] pt icon
* [http://magonia.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/mboct66.htm The lead masks case at MUFORG - Merseyside Unidentified Flying Objects Research Group.]
* [http://www.infa.com.br/casos/mascaras_de_chumbo/04.jpgMiguel José Viana]
* [http://www.infa.com.br/casos/mascaras_de_chumbo/03.jpgManoel Pereira da Cruz]
* [http://www.infa.com.br/casos/mascaras_de_chumbo/05.jpgOne of the lead masks wore by them]
* [http://www.infa.com.br/casos/mascaras_de_chumbo/01.jpgOne of the letters found with them.]