Woman, 37, who posed as a child and drank from bottle was adopted by couple who believed she was 12

A family in Brazil thought they were looking after a 12-year-old girl who had escaped years of mistreatment. However, over a year later, police reportedly found out that the child was actually a 37-year-old woman living under a false identity.

On June 2, a 37-year-old woman, whose real name has not been disclosed by authorities, was arrested in Joinville, southern Brazil, after posing as a child and staying with a family that believed she was 12.

Investigators state that the woman went by the name “Gabriele” and approached a local church, claiming she had escaped an abusive situation in northern Brazil.

Community members came together to support her, providing assistance and temporary housing. Eventually, a family took her in, convinced she was a child in need of care.

Lived with family for over a year

According to police, the woman lived with the family for 14 months.

During this period, she allegedly claimed to suffer from autism and various health issues to justify why she looked older than her claimed age.

Authorities report that she also told others she had been forced to take hormones as a child due to abuse, which she said impacted her physical growth.

Investigators assert that she maintained her ruse by using a childlike voice, exhibiting emotionally dependent behavior, and pretending to have panic attacks.

Authorities also allege that she utilized baby bottles, pacifiers, and a comfort cloth, and that she slept with items typically associated with young children.

The family is said to have become so fond of “Gabriele” that they celebrated what they thought was her 12th birthday and even contemplated the idea of formally adopting her.

Nevertheless, investigators assert that she consistently evaded actions that could have revealed her true identity.

She reportedly declined to enroll in school, stating that she was afraid her abusive father would locate her.

Police connect the woman to earlier cases.

After her arrest, the woman allegedly confessed that she was not a child.

Authorities have charged her with fraud and providing a false identity. She is currently held at Joinville Regional Prison.

As investigators delved into her past, they reportedly discovered connections to other cases across various regions of Brazil.

One such case goes back to 2023 in Nova Iguaçu, where police claim she impersonated a 12-year-old girl named Maria Eduarda and made a series of alarming allegations related to abuse and ritualistic practices.

Local authorities report that medical examinations conducted at the time found numerous needles inserted into her body by her own doing.

The police now suspect that the woman might have utilized various identities while traveling across different areas of the country.

Officials are still looking into whether she was connected to similar occurrences in other locations.

This case has garnered significant attention in Brazil, where many are puzzled by how the ruse was sustained for such an extended period.