Brazilian accused of 42 murders

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A Brazilian bike mechanic who confessed to killing one boy is suspected of slaying 41 others, O Globo TV reported Monday.

Francisco das Chagas Rodrigues de Brito, 41, admitted to killing a 15-year-old boy in 2003.

Chagas had previously confessed to the other killings, then retracted his statements. He blames sexual abuse as a child for his murderous streak.

If found guilty of all the murders, Chagas will become the most prolific serial killer in Brazilian history, surpassing the "Vampire of Niteroi," who in the early 1990s was convicted of killing 14 people.