Overview
- A woman identified as Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira is accused of spending about 14 months living with a family in Joinville while presenting herself as a 12-year-old and convincing them to treat her as their daughter.
- Investigators say she used baby bottles, pacifiers, staged night terrors and claims of medical conditions to sustain the deception, and medical imaging shown by police reportedly revealed dozens of metal needles lodged in her body.
- The family paid for medications, held a 12th birthday party and were preparing to adopt her before relatives grew suspicious and alerted authorities.
- Police allege a pattern of nearly identical cases across several Brazilian states and say Amanda has a prior conviction for false identity in Goiás; she remains in custody pending a judicial psychiatric evaluation.
- The case highlights how informal care networks such as churches and volunteer groups can be exploited, and investigators are tracing similar incidents to determine the full scope and any financial or legal consequences for those involved.