Brazil prisoner who almost escaped in 'teen girl' disguise is found hanged to death

A Brazilian prison inmate whose attempt to escape jail dressed as his own teen daughter went internet-viral has been found dead in his cell of an apparent hanging.

Rio de Janeiro state authorities reported on Tuesday that Clauvino da Silva, 42, hung himself with a bedsheet.

The convicted Rio drug dealer was serving a decades-long sentence and almost managed to escape jail last Saturday, disguised as his daughter.

Authorities found him in a weird plastic mask, and a wig and womens clothes, including a bra.

From Reuters:

A video, released by prison authorities, in which he slowly removes his surreal disguise went viral, shining a light on Brazils longstanding struggle with its violent, overcrowded prison system, the worlds third largest.

On Tuesday, however, in a gruesome twist, Rio prison officials said Silva had been found dead in his cell in a high-security unit in the states Bangu prison complex.

The inmate appears to have hanged himself with a bed sheet, Rios prison authority said in a statement, adding that an investigation had been opened.

The death of Silva is an embarrassment for Rios prison authorities, which had initially cheered their actions in preventing his unusual escape plan. He is the latest prisoner to die in Brazils jails, which have become a major headache for new tough-on-crime President Jair Bolsonaro.

Last week, at least 57 people died after a prison riot broke out in the northern state of Para. More than 50 inmates died in similar circumstances in May during prison riots in the northern state of Amazonas.