A former UFC star was discovered deceased in a Florida detention facility on Sunday with authorities investigating what appears to be a self-inflicted passing. Godofredo Pepey, a 38-year-old Brazilian mixed martial arts competitor, had been held since June on serious charges stemming from allegations of aggression against his spouse.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed to media outlets that detectives are examining the circumstances surrounding his alleged decision to end his life at the facility. According to their statement, correctional staff found the inmate and immediately removed a sheet from around his neck before administering emergency medical procedures until additional help arrived. Authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected in the incident though official confirmation awaits the completion of the Broward Medical Examiner’s final report.
Pepey, whose legal name was Godofredo Castro de Oliveira, faced multiple serious charges including kidnapping, strangulation, witness tampering and battery against his wife Samara Mello. Court documents detail that he had been awaiting trial on these allegations when he passed away.
The attorney representing Mello released a carefully worded statement following news of the passing:
“The death of someone in custody is a serious matter. There are procedures that must be followed by the American authorities, and any and all news will be released by those authorities. Until then, I ask for respect for the family, his wife Samara, and that you avoid malicious comments and speculation, so as not to cause further suffering.”
News of Pepey’s passing first emerged publicly through social media when fellow UFC veteran Rony Bezerra shared an emotional tribute on Instagram Monday morning. The two had developed a close bond after appearing together on “TUF Brazil”, a reality television program produced by the UFC.
“I’m here to bring some terrible news. Unfortunately, we lost our partner, Godfredo Pepey,”
Bezerra wrote.
“Very sad to lose this great partner, an unparalleled guy. A partner, a friend, a brother. Wherever you are, may God bless you. I love you brother.”
He accompanied his message with video footage showing happier moments between the two.
The charges against Pepey stemmed from an incident reported in June. According to Brazilian outlet Combate, which covered the arrest at the time, the allegations included striking Mello, leaving visible bruising on her face and body and causing significant damage to their home. Reports further alleged that he prevented her from leaving the residence and blocked her access to communication devices that would have allowed her to seek help. Law enforcement became involved after neighbors contacted police the following day.
One month following the arrest, a crowdfunding campaign was established to support Mello
“to help her get back on her feet during this hard time.”
In the campaign description, she shared her perspective on the broader issue:
“My name is Samara Mello, I’m the wife of Godofredo Pepey, and I’m also a domestic violence survivor. Domestic violence is real in the sports world, and it’s still a taboo that few have the courage to mention in the combat sports community. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist.”
She continued with a message about recovery and advocacy:
“Today, I am rebuilding my life and I am immensely grateful to have survived so that now I can make a difference in the lives of other women. When violence happens inside the home, it doesn’t just destroy one family — it impacts the entire community. We need to stop treating this like it’s a secret.”
Mello also addressed systemic issues in her statement:
“I hope the authorities in Brazil and around the world understand that the blood on my face and body is on the hands of those who still see femicide as just a statistic — and do far too little to change that.”
Born in Fortaleza, Brazil, Pepey competed inside the UFC octagon eleven times between 2012 and 2018. During his tenure with the premier mixed martial arts organization, he faced several prominent competitors in the featherweight division including justice.
