Brazilian man denies charges after stepdaughter held for 22 years, police say
Authorities say the woman was abused since childhood, monitored by surveillance cameras, and coerced into sexual acts with multiple men; investigators compare the case to a notorious Austrian crime.
A Brazilian man accused of holding his stepdaughter captive for 22 years and fathering three of her children denied the charges leveled against him, telling police the allegations were lies and that he lives for his family. The 51-year-old suspect has been in custody since last week, after the 29-year-old victim escaped and told authorities she had been abused by him since she was seven.
Investigators said the woman endured decades of sexual violence, including being coerced into sex with strangers and watched constantly on surveillance cameras installed throughout the home. She told officers she managed to break free by saying she needed to visit a health clinic, but instead went to the police, prompting a raid on a condominium in Araucária. Dramatic footage showed armed officers storming the property as the suspect was arrested.
Police chief Eduardo Kruger said the victim remained in contact with the alleged abuser during the initial stages of questioning, receiving more than 30 calls and over 15 audio messages. She described a pattern in which the man threatened and controlled her, telling her, in effect, that if she left, serious problems would follow and that she would be “coming after” her if she spoke to authorities. The case also included reports that the suspect monitored the victim’s movements, and prosecutors said the assaults were captured on videos stored on his mobile phone.
According to the victim, the abuse began when she was seven years old and intensified after she reached adolescence. She said she became pregnant at 16 after the couple separated from her mother, and that she was forced to marry the man. Investigators say she had three children with him and was compelled to have sex with other men, with episodes occurring roughly every two to three months. The testimony described earlier pregnancies and coercive control that extended over many years, including threats against her safety and well-being.
The case has drawn parallels in Brazil with the notorious case of Josef Fritzl in Austria, who imprisoned his daughter for 24 years, repeatedly raping her and fathering seven children. Fritzl was convicted of murder, rape, incest, slavery and severe coercion, becoming a symbol of extreme family violence in the region. In the Brazilian investigation, authorities emphasized that the suspect is held in preventive detention while under review for seven crimes, including rape, deprivation of liberty, threats and psychological violence. If convicted on all counts, prosecutors said, the sentences could exceed 100 years in prison.
The victim and her children have been placed in a safe location while protective measures are considered. Police said the investigation continues, with authorities seeking to determine the full extent of the abuse and any additional victims.
The Araucária case underscores ongoing concerns about abuse within families and the use of surveillance and coercion to maintain control. Local authorities have said they are reviewing protective services and support available to victims of long-term domestic violence. In Brazil, as in many places around the world, cases that surface after a victim’s escape can reveal a pattern of abuse that took years to unravel.
Authorities have not named the suspect, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The victim’s testimony, alongside evidence seized during the raid, is expected to inform subsequent charges and potential plea arrangements as the investigation progresses.