On a chilly August afternoon in 1966, two men lay lifeless on a remote Brazilian hillside, untouched by signs of violence or injury. This secluded area of Morro do Vintém, a hill overlooking Niterói, became the scene of an unsettling mystery that would baffle authorities and fascinate the public. A young boy exploring the area discovered the men and alerted the authorities, drawing attention to a scene that was eerie rather than gruesome: two men in formal suits, lying side by side, with lead masks covering only their eyes.

The deceased were identified as Miguel José Viana and Manoel Pereira da Cruz, electronic technicians from the nearby town of Campos dos Goytacazes. In their final hours, it seemed the two had followed a series of instructions detailed in a notebook found at the site. The cryptic directions told them to arrive at a designated location, take capsules, and “protect metals, await signal.” Yet no cause of death was apparent, adding confusion and intrigue to the case. There were no signs of poison, trauma, or illness. As speculation grew, theories emerged, ranging from ritualistic experiments to encounters with unknown forces, yet no explanation took shape. Investigators were left with fragments of evidence, each piece intensifying the mystery.

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As the investigation progressed, theories quickly circulated. Some locals believed the men were trying to make contact with extraterrestrial beings. During the 1960s, UFO sightings were widely reported in Brazil, and many believed unknown forces were present in the area. Reports of strange lights seen over Morro do Vintém around the time of the men’s deaths stirred even more rumors. Several residents described seeing unusual lights in the sky, moving in patterns that did not match known aircraft. To those who accepted the UFO theory, it seemed that Miguel and Manoel were attempting a ritual or experiment to make contact, and that their lead masks were intended as protection from whatever they might encounter.