A family in Brazil believed they were caring for a 12-year-old girl who had escaped years of abuse. More than a year later, police allegedly discovered the child was actually a 37-year-old woman living under a false identity.
A 37-year-old woman whose real name is has not been released by authorities has been arrested on June 2 in Joinville in southern Brazil after impersonating a child and staying in the care of a family who believed she was 12.
Investigators say the woman used the name “Gabriele” and approached a local church claiming she had fled an abusive situation in northern Brazil.
Members of the community rallied around her, offering support and temporary accommodation. Eventually, a family agreed to take her in after believing she was a child in need of protection.
Lived with family for more than a year
According to police, the woman remained with the family for 14 months.
During that time, she allegedly claimed to suffer from autism and several health conditions to explain why she appeared older than her stated age.
Authorities say she also told people she had been forced to take hormones as a child due to abuse, which she claimed affected her physical development.
Investigators allege she maintained the deception by speaking in a childlike voice, displaying emotionally dependent behavior and pretending to experience panic attacks.
Police also claim she used baby bottles, pacifiers and a comfort cloth, and slept with items commonly associated with young children.
The family reportedly became so attached to “Gabriele” that they celebrated what they believed was her 12th birthday and even discussed the possibility of formally adopting her.
However, investigators say she repeatedly avoided taking steps that could have exposed her true identity.
She allegedly refused to enroll in school, claiming she feared her abusive father would find her.
Police link woman to previous cases
Following her arrest, the woman reportedly admitted she was not a child.
Authorities charged her with fraud and providing a false identity. She remains in custody at Joinville Regional Prison.
As investigators examined her background, they allegedly uncovered links to other cases in different parts of Brazil.
One case dates back to 2023 in Nova Iguaçu, where police say she posed as a 12-year-old girl named Maria Eduarda and made a series of disturbing allegations involving abuse and ritual practices.
According to local authorities, medical examinations at the time revealed dozens of needles embedded in her body by herself.
Police now believe the woman may have used multiple identities while moving between different regions of the country.
Officials are continuing to investigate whether she was involved in similar incidents elsewhere.
The case has attracted widespread attention in Brazil, where many have struggled to understand how the deception was maintained for so long.
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