Indigenous Avá Guarani Man Decapitated in Brutal Land Conflict in Western Paraná
On the morning of March 22, 2025, a young Avá Guarani indigenous man, identified as Marcelo Ortiz, also known as Ku’i, was found dead and decapitated on a rural road near the airport in Guaíra, Paraná, Brazil. His body was discarded in nearby vegetation, while his head was gruesomely impaled on a castor branch stake, shocking local communities. The murder took place in the Tekoha Jevy village, part of the Guasu Guavirá Indigenous Land, amid escalating violence over land disputes in Western Paraná. Authorities, including the Federal Police, National Force, and Civil Police, are investigating, but the killers and their motives remain unknown. This horrific act follows months of armed attacks and threats against the Avá Guarani, who have been fighting to reclaim their ancestral territory since July 2024.
Avá Guarani, decapitated, land conflict, Western Paraná, Marcelo Ortiz, indigenous violence, Guaíra, Tekoha Jevy, Guasu Guavirá, Brazil land disputes.
