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In a remarkable case out of Joinville, Brazil, a 37-year-old woman reportedly posed as a 12-year-old girl, even going so far as to drink from a baby bottle as part of her deception. Known to her hosts as “Gabriele,” she lived with a local couple for about a year, during which time they developed a parental bond and celebrated her “12th birthday” with a party.
The unusual situation came to light when police arrested the woman at the family’s home in the Pirabeiraba district on June 2. Authorities revealed that the suspect, whose real name is Amanda Maria Sousa Oliveira, had attempted similar impersonations before. Using the alias “Gabriele,” she convinced the family she had fled abuse in the northern state of Pará.
Investigators say Amanda initially reached out to a church in Joinville, claiming to have escaped mistreatment. Members of the congregation provided financial help and housing, eventually leading to her being taken in by the unsuspecting couple.
During her stay, Amanda claimed to have autism and other medical conditions to explain her adult appearance, and said she had been forced to take hormones as a child due to abuse. To maintain her false identity, she exhibited childlike behavior-using pacifiers, baby bottles, and a security blanket-and even faked panic attacks. She spoke in a high-pitched voice and displayed emotional dependency, which helped her gain sympathy and care from the family.
The couple reportedly covered medical expenses for her and considered legally adopting her, though Amanda avoided discussions about official adoption procedures and never carried identification documents. She also convinced the family not to send her to school, fearing her alleged abusive father would find her.
The charade unraveled after a family member alerted the authorities, triggering an investigation. Upon questioning, Amanda admitted to the elaborate fraud and now faces charges of fraud and false identity. She has been detained at Joinville Regional Prison.
Further police investigation uncovered a history of similar scams across several Brazilian states, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Goiás. In one 2023 case in Nova Iguaçu, she posed as a 12-year-old named “Maria Eduarda,” claiming autism and abuse, and even convinced local officials to help her secure housing. In that instance, she reportedly inserted up to 100 needles into her own body to support her story.
Despite being detained previously, Amanda was released under precautionary measures and had no recorded final sentencing in any of these cases. Due to her repeated use of false identities and frequent moves across states, many of her prior cases remained unresolved at the time of her latest arrest.
Amanda currently remains in custody, facing ongoing legal proceedings related to her deceptive activities.