Celebrating our first month of publications, we bring you a different kind of story: the tale of Portugal’s first serial killer. José Domingues Borrego, better known as Zé Borrego, was a criminal whose terrifying acts still echo through the country’s criminal history. Born on April 13, 1927, in Aranhas, Penamacor, Borrego is remembered not only for his crimes but also for the peculiarities of his case, marked by bizarre confessions and a tragic end.

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Who Was José Domingues Borrego?

José Domingues Borrego grew up in a small village in the Beira Baixa region, and his seemingly ordinary life showed no signs of the atrocities that were to come. Years later, he would be recognized as Portugal’s first registered serial killer, at a time when this concept was still largely unknown in the country. Known for his brutal methods, Borrego targeted homosexual men, claiming he had a “divine mission” to “eliminate” them.

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The Crimes of Zé Borrego

José Domingues Borrego was found guilty of five murders, all involving the same approach. After meeting homosexual men, he would lure them with promises of intimate encounters and take them to a boarding house where he would strangle them. Reports indicate that he dismembered the bodies of his victims and then disposed of the remains in the Tagus River, a method that reinforces his profile as a killer with a specific pattern. His choice of victims and modus operandi reflect a disturbed and dangerous mind.

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The Confessions and Motive Behind the Crimes

Zé Borrego’s case became even more controversial after his confession in court. According to him, the Virgin Mary had appeared and ordered him to “purify” Lisbon of male homosexuality. Although this explanation may seem absurd to many, it was accepted in court as evidence of a tormented mind, leading the case to a tragic conclusion. This distorted vision was, according to reports, a determining factor in his sentencing, despite not having served time for the murders committed.

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The Sentence and the End of Zé Borrego

Although he confessed to the crimes, Zé Borrego was never convicted of the murders. Instead, he spent his final days in prison. His last weeks were marked by solitude and evident despair, culminating in his suicide on November 14, 1971, when he hanged himself in his cell with an improvised rope. This final act ended the brief but macabre story of Portugal’s first serial killer.

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Conclusion

The story of José Domingues Borrego remains a mystery in Portuguese criminal history, not only because of the number of lives he claimed but also due to his motivation and the dramatic outcome of the case. In a country that previously had no concept of a “serial killer,” Zé Borrego introduced an era of terror and perplexity, remaining a fascinating and frightening figure in collective memory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was Portugal’s first serial killer?

A: José Domingues Borrego, also known as Zé Borrego, is considered Portugal’s first serial killer.

Q: What motivated Zé Borrego to commit his crimes?

A: According to his confession, Zé Borrego claimed he had a divine mission to eliminate homosexual men from Lisbon.

Q: How did Zé Borrego’s story end?

A: Zé Borrego took his own life in prison on November 14, 1971, by hanging himself in his cell.