The FBI arrested Daniel Garcia Carrera, the estranged husband of murdered Manhattan art dealer Brent Sikkema, after Brazilian authorities suspected his involvement in the killing. Sikkema was stabbed in his Rio de Janeiro home a day before he was due to return to New York. Garcia Carrera, who had a bitter divorce with Sikkema, was accused of planning to flee the country with their teenage son. Brazilian police had arrested another individual in connection to the murder, who alleged that Garcia Carrera had ordered the hit from New York and offered money to complete the job.
On March 20, FBI agents raided Garcia Carrera’s apartment in Kips Bay, where he lived with his son and another family. The agents took him into custody, suspecting him of lying on a passport application and being a flight risk. Prosecutors alleged that he was trying to obtain a passport for his son to leave the US, possibly to Cuba. Garcia Carrera was released on a $1 million bond and fitted with an ankle monitor, despite the prosecutor’s request for detention. The art dealer, Sikkema, was a prominent figure in the art world, representing high-profile artists before his untimely death in Brazil.
A Cuban national, Alejandro Triana Prevez, who had worked for Sikkema, was also arrested by Brazilian authorities in connection to the murder. He claimed that Garcia Carrera had ordered the hit and provided him with a key to Sikkema’s home in Rio. Triana Prevez’s lawyer stated that his client believed the murder was a “crime of command.” The Brazilian police filing obtained by The Post revealed that Sikkema had fallen in love with a younger man before his death, communicating with him via video calls and planning a date. The filing also indicated that the art dealer frequented bathhouses in Rio to pick up young male prostitutes.
Accusations against Garcia Carrera continued to mount as Brazilian authorities suspected his involvement in Sikkema’s murder. The FBI’s raid on his apartment and subsequent arrest highlighted the ongoing investigation into the case. The revelations surrounding Sikkema’s personal life shed light on potential motives behind his murder, including his relationships with individuals before his death. The details emerging from the investigation painted a complex picture of the events leading up to Sikkema’s fatal stabbing in his Rio home.
The ongoing legal proceedings involving Garcia Carrera and the investigation into Brent Sikkema’s murder continued to captivate public interest. The FBI’s involvement in the case, along with the allegations made by Brazilian authorities and other individuals connected to the murder, indicated a complex web of relationships and motives. The tragic death of the Manhattan art dealer sent shockwaves through the art world and beyond, prompting scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding his killing. The spotlight on Garcia Carrera’s actions and potential role in the murder raised questions about justice and accountability in the high-profile case. As developments unfolded in the legal case, the truth behind Brent Sikkema’s murder remained elusive, leaving many to grapple with the uncertainties surrounding the art dealer’s untimely demise.
