Plymouth Police capture Brazilian in North Carolina wanted for 7 counts of child rape, other charges

Members of the Plymouth Police Detective Division have returned from North Carolina with a suspect wanted by the Plymouth Police Department for multiple Sex Offenses.

Werlen Luiz, a 48-year-old native of Brazil, had a been on the run since 2021. It had been thought he fled back to Brazil after a warrant was issued for his arrest. 

In July 2024, Plymouth Police Detective Robert Shaw received information indicating that Luiz was somewhere in the United States. Over the past several months Detective Shaw sought and obtained numerous search warrants that led to a location in Statesville, North Carolina, where on 11/15/24 Luiz was located and arrested by U.S. Marshals. 

Luiz was booked at Plymouth Police Headquarters on the charges of Rape of Child, Ten Year age Difference – 7 counts, Assault & Battery, and Strangulation or Suffocation.

He is expected to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Friday 12/6/24. 

The Plymouth Police Department thanked Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz and the entire Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the pursuit of justice for the citizens of Plymouth. While it has taken several years to locate and bring Werlen Luiz back to Massachusetts, this collaboration has shown their sincere commitment to our citizens.