SAO PAULO (AP) — Police say a former army colonel who acknowledged he tortured and killed political prisoners during Brazil's 1964-1985 military regime was murdered in his home outside Rio de Janeiro.

Citing the victim's widow, police inspector Fabio Salvadorete tells the UOL news portal that Paulo Malhaes was suffocated to death on Thursday by three men who broke into his house and stole two computers and some of the antique guns he collected.

Last month, Malhaes gave Brazil's National Truth Commission a detailed account of how he participated in the abduction, torture and killing of political prisoners. He also said he helped in the "disappearance" of the bodies. He said at the time he did not regret his actions that he justified saying "they were guerrillas and enemies of the state."