Brazilian 'Josef Fritzl' case: stepfather denies captivity charges after 22 years

A Brazilian man accused of imprisoning his stepdaughter for 22 years and fathering three of her children has denied the charges, telling police that the allegations are lies and that he lives for his family, according to the police chief in Araucária. The 51-year-old suspect has been in custody since last week, after the 29-year-old victim escaped and said she had endured abuse since she was seven.

Investigators say the woman suffered decades of sexual violence, including coercion into sex with other men, and that the abuse was monitored by surveillance cameras installed inside the home. She told officers that the assaults occurred roughly every two to three months and that the man watched her movements closely. She described being forced to have sex with other men and said the episodes continued for years, with at least three children born from the relationship. Authorities said the assaults were sometimes recorded on video, and that the victim feared the man would target her daughters as well. The victim said she managed to break free by telling her alleged abuser she needed to visit a health clinic, then went straight to police.

The case prompted a police raid at a condominium in Araucária, where officers stormed the residence and arrested the suspect. Authorities seized cameras and videos of the abuse from his mobile phone as part of the investigation. He is being held in preventive detention while prosecutors pursue seven charges, including rape, deprivation of liberty, threats and psychological violence. If convicted, the combined sentences could exceed 100 years in prison. The victim and her children have been placed in a safe location while protective measures are considered.

The case has drawn comparisons to the Austrian case of Josef Fritzl, who imprisoned and abused his daughter for 24 years. Public awareness of Fritzl’s crimes helped frame the Brazil case within a broader context of severe and prolonged sexual violence within a family setting, though officials said the two cases are unrelated. Police said the suspect is cooperating with investigators, but as of now, he has denied all accusations, insisting the claims are lies and that he is devoted to his family.

The investigation continues as authorities review additional testimony and any further evidence recovered from the home. The victim’s full testimony, along with forensic and digital evidence, will shape the next steps in the process, including potential charges and protective measures for her and her children.