UFC veteran Godofredo Pepey was found dead Saturday night in a jail cell in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Local law enforcement did not officially confirm the cause of death, but Pepey’s friend Rony Jason revealed on social media he committed suicide. Leo Guimaraes first reported the news.
Pepey, 38, was arrested in June on four separate charges, kidnapping with the intent to inflict bodily harm or terrorize victim, domestic battery by strangulation, tampering with/hindering/delaying with communications,
and touch or strike battery/domestic violence. He had pleaded not guilty.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office released a statement to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin regarding Pepey’s death.
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating an apparent suicide of an inmate.
Shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, a detention deputy was conducting routine checks when he discovered Godofredo Castro de Oliveira unresponsive alone in his cell at the Main Jail, located at 555 S.E. First Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded and transported Castro de Oliveira to Broward Health Medical Center, where he later died.
Based on the initial investigation, detectives said jail staff removed a sheet from around Castro de Oliveira’s neck and began performing life-saving measures until rescue arrived. They said no foul play is suspected, and the cause and manner of death are pending the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office final report.
BSO’s Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs Division continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the apparent suicide.
Castro de Oliveira was in jail on a no bond hold following his arrest on June 30, 2025, in Deerfield Beach on domestic violence related charges.
Pepey won five of his 11 bouts under the UFC banner. He lost the TUF Brazil 1 featherweight final loss to Rony Jason in June 2012. The Fortaleza native scored three straight bonus-winning submissions over Noad Lahat, Dashon Johnson and Andre Fili between 2014 and 2015, before being let go by the promotion after losing three of his next four.
