A Fall from Grace

Brazilian mixed-martial-arts fighter Godofredo “Pepey” Castro, aged 38, was found dead in a prison cell at the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) main jail in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2025.

Castro had previously competed in the UFC as a featherweight and appeared on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil. The Economic Times+1 His professional record stood at 13-7 overall, with a 5-6 record inside the UFC.

The Arrest and Charges

On June 30 2025, Castro was arrested in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on a series of serious charges: kidnapping, battery, domestic violence by strangulation, and witness tampering.
According to a police report, the altercation with his wife reportedly stemmed from a “jealousy issue”. During the attack, investigators say he dragged his wife by the hair into their home, choked her until she lost consciousness multiple times, and then threw her to the ground and smashed her head into the ground repeatedly. The wife sustained visible injuries including redness around the neck and face. Hindustan Times
Castro pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his criminal case was still ongoing at the time of his death.

Discovery of His Death & Initial Findings

On the evening that Castro’s body was found, deputies performing routine checks in the BSO jail discovered him unresponsive in his cell, with a sheet tied around his neck. He was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected and the death is being treated as an apparent suicide, though the official cause remains under investigation.

Reflection & Repercussions

The news of Castro’s death has sent ripples across the MMA community. Former teammate and fellow fighter Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra—who competed alongside Castro on TUF Brazil—wrote on social media:

“Unfortunately, he couldn’t handle the pressure and ended up taking his own life… Fighters can be very strong physically, but if their mind is unstable, they can end up committing an act like this.” MMA Mania

Castro’s death has reignited discussions about mental health issues among professional fighters, the long-term toll of high-performance athletic careers (especially in combat sports), and how domestic violence charges complicate legacies.

What This Means & Broader Questions

• Injustice or accountability? The serious nature of the allegations Castro faced—kidnapping, strangulation, battery—highlight the gravity of domestic violence in sports.

• Mental health in combat sports. The statement by his teammate raises questions about stress, mental health support, and what happens when fighters exit the spotlight or face legal ruin.

• Prison oversight & custody deaths. The fact that Castro died while in custody raises issues about inmate welfare, suicide prevention protocols in jails, and whether more could have been done.

• Impact on surviving family. While the wife’s name has not been widely publicised in all reports, her lawyer has asked the public to avoid speculation and respect privacy as investigations continue. Hindustan Times

Key Timeline

• Up to Feb 2022: Castro’s last professional MMA fight.

• June 30 2025: Arrested in Florida on domestic violence and related charges.

• November 2025: Found unresponsive in jail cell; later pronounced dead.

Final Thoughts

Godofredo “Pepey” Castro’s story is tragic on multiple fronts: a former high-profile athlete facing life-altering criminal charges, who then died in state custody under circumstances pointing to suicide. It intersects issues of violence, accountability, mental health, custody safety, and the brutal realities that can lie beneath the spectacle of sport.