Godofredo Pepey death has drawn strong attention in Brazil and the United States after the former UFC fighter was found dead in a Florida jail while awaiting trial on serious domestic violence charges.
Authorities confirmed that the 38 year old Brazilian fighter had been held since late June following his arrest on suspicion of assaulting his wife, Samara Mello, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. His death was communicated to Samara and her lawyer, Gaudenio Santiago, on Tuesday.
Mr Santiago asked the public and the media to avoid speculation while the case remains under the responsibility of United States officials. He told Brazilian reporters that the death of anyone in custody must be treated as a serious matter and that only the American authorities can release verified updates. He also appealed for respect for the family and for Samara during this period.
Pepey, born Godofredo Castro de Oliveira in Fortaleza, began training martial arts at a young age alongside his brother Godofredo Claudio, a respected Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt. He entered professional MMA competition at the age of 15 in 2003, stepped away for a short period, and returned to active fighting in 2006.
He joined the UFC roster in 2012 and competed for six years before the organisation chose not to renew his contract. During his professional run, he secured 13 victories in 21 fights, including four by knockout and eight by submission.
His arrest took place on June 30, when police in Florida informed him that he would face charges linked to an alleged attack on his wife. Shortly after the incident, Samara posted a photo showing visible injuries and spoke publicly about domestic violence within the sports community. She said it remains a topic that many people refuse to address openly.
Samara explained that she is now focused on rebuilding her life and hopes her experience will help other women facing similar situations. She said that the violence she suffered should be seen as a call for stronger action from authorities who often treat femicide and domestic abuse as distant statistics.
Following the arrest, Pepey’s brother, who runs a fight school in Brazil, made a public statement acknowledging that his brother had made a serious mistake. He said that Pepey would now face the consequences of both the law and his actions. He added that their team does not accept behaviour that goes against its values and that judgment should be left to the proper authorities.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Pepey’s death continues in Florida, and officials are expected to release further information once the required procedures are completed.
