A 37-year-old woman has been arrested in Joinville, Santa Catarina, after police say she spent more than a year posing as a 12-year-old girl in order to gain access to a family and secure their financial and emotional support, reports VICE.
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was taken into custody on June 3 at a residence where she had been living with a local family who believed she was an abused child in need of care and eventual adoption, according to Brazilian authorities.
Investigators say the suspect presented herself under the name “Gabrielle,” claiming she was autistic and had fled an abusive home in the state of Para. Authorities allege she initially entered a church in Joinville and told a pastor she was a runaway minor. The congregation reportedly began providing assistance, which later led to her placement with a family.
Over 14 months, police say she maintained the impersonation inside the household and encouraged the belief she was a child. She allegedly used childlike behaviors, including drinking from a baby bottle, using a pacifier, sleeping with a comfort object, and faking night terrors. Authorities also say she received financial support for medication and participated and preparations for what the family believed would be a 12th birthday celebration.
The case came to light after a relative became suspicious and conducted online research, which allegedly revealed the child identity was linked to a 37-year-old woman with a history of similar accusations in multiple Brazilian states. Police were then contacted and arrested her at the residence. “I was deceived by a woman who claimed to be a 12-year-old,” said a the family members in Portuguese, according to regional outlet Jornal Ipanema, which did not identify the victim. “I gave her affection, love, and food. There was no way I could suspect anything,” the source added.
Investigators say Oliveira has been linked to similar impersonation cases in at least seven states, often involving claims that she was escaping abuse, trafficking, or cult environments.
Authorities also referenced a 2023 incident in Rio de Janeiro in which volunteers reported discovering medical complications and arranging imaging scans. During those examinations, more than 200 needles were allegedly found in her body. She later left the area, according to reports.
Police confirmed she has a prior conviction for identity-related offenses in Goiás but had not served her sentence at the time of the latest arrest.
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was taken into custody on June 3 at a residence where she had been living with a local family who believed she was an abused child in need of care and eventual adoption, according to Brazilian authorities.
Investigators say the suspect presented herself under the name “Gabrielle,” claiming she was autistic and had fled an abusive home in the state of Para. Authorities allege she initially entered a church in Joinville and told a pastor she was a runaway minor. The congregation reportedly began providing assistance, which later led to her placement with a family.
Over 14 months, police say she maintained the impersonation inside the household and encouraged the belief she was a child. She allegedly used childlike behaviors, including drinking from a baby bottle, using a pacifier, sleeping with a comfort object, and faking night terrors. Authorities also say she received financial support for medication and participated and preparations for what the family believed would be a 12th birthday celebration.
The case came to light after a relative became suspicious and conducted online research, which allegedly revealed the child identity was linked to a 37-year-old woman with a history of similar accusations in multiple Brazilian states. Police were then contacted and arrested her at the residence. “I was deceived by a woman who claimed to be a 12-year-old,” said a the family members in Portuguese, according to regional outlet Jornal Ipanema, which did not identify the victim. “I gave her affection, love, and food. There was no way I could suspect anything,” the source added.
Investigators say Oliveira has been linked to similar impersonation cases in at least seven states, often involving claims that she was escaping abuse, trafficking, or cult environments.
Authorities also referenced a 2023 incident in Rio de Janeiro in which volunteers reported discovering medical complications and arranging imaging scans. During those examinations, more than 200 needles were allegedly found in her body. She later left the area, according to reports.
Police confirmed she has a prior conviction for identity-related offenses in Goiás but had not served her sentence at the time of the latest arrest.
