The Rio Civil Police analyzes images that show a man leaving the house where 75-year-old American Brent Sikkema was staying in the early hours of last Sunday (14), in Jardim Botânico, in the South Zone of Rio. The images were provided by security company Gabriel and forwarded to the Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC), responsible for the investigations. The American was a partner at the contemporary art gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co., in New York, United States.
In the images, the suspect appears getting out of the car parked in front of Sikkema's house, at 3:42 in the morning. Wearing a hat, he exits the vehicle alone, on the passenger side. The man stays in front of the gate for around 53 seconds and manages to enter the property. Approximately 14 minutes later, at around 3:57 am, the suspect leaves the residence, removing gloves from his hands. He puts the accessories in his pocket and enters the car again through the driver's door. At 4:02 am he leaves the place. See the video :
The American's body was found with stab wounds on Monday night (15), in the property located on Rua Abreu Fialho. A friend of Sikkema's arrived at the scene and came across the dead man, so she called the Fire Department around 11pm. The agents went to the scene, confirmed the death and took the body to the Legal Medical Institute (IML) in the center of Rio.
DHC is investigating whether the American was a victim of robbery, robbery followed by death. This has been the specialist’s main line of investigation. However, no line of investigation has been ruled out. The suspect who appears in the video apparently leaves the property without taking anything.
According to the Civil Police, the investigation was carried out at the property where the victim's body was located. Agents will listen to witnesses, are looking for more information and will carry out other steps to clarify the case.
The art gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co made a post on social media mourning the death of Brent Sikkema.
“The gallery mourns this tremendous loss and will continue in its spirit,” the post reads.
Brent founded the gallery in 1991. At the time, the location was called Wooster Gardens, in reference to its original location on Wooster Street. In 1999, the exhibition space was expanded, moving to its current location on 22nd Street.
According to the official website, the venue, which offers space for exhibitions of paintings, illustrations, installations, photography and sculptures, has already exhibited names such as Kara Walker and Sheila Hicks, as well as emerging photographers, including Nikki S. Lee and Deana Lawson.
The United States Consulate in Rio de Janeiro stated, in a note, that it offers its condolences to the family, to whom it is offering the necessary support.
Source: CNN Brasil
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