hildebrando worked most of his career in the military police, earning the rank of commander and then colonel. he then was elected state representative in 1994, with the support of orleir cameli and ronivon santiago (both of whom have also been investigated for corruption). as early as 1995, brazilian human rights groups and the ministry of justice (brazil) were investigating hildebrando. during these early periods, there were widespread reports that he dismembered victims with a chainsaw and participated in the drug trafficking trade he was tasked with fighting. however, during this investigation, most of the witnesses were assassinated, including a former accomplice of hildebrando named sebastião crispim. he was found dismembered with his eyes torn out. another witness was kidnapped with his two sons, ruthlessly tortured, and then killed. others were killed and then dissolved in acid.