Woman Who Lived as a 12-Year-Old for 14 Months Is Made Defendant as Court Orders Psychiatric Exam

Overview

• Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 37, was arrested in Joinville and, after the prosecution’s complaint was accepted, was made a ré on charges of false identity and estelionato.
• The fraud was uncovered after a relative searched online and recognized past reports, prompting the family to report her and police to arrest her on June 2.
• Police say Amanda repeatedly presented as a child to gain shelter and gifts, using infantile behavior, fabricated medical narratives and church referrals to win trust.
• Investigators and records link similar incidents across at least six other states over more than a decade, and authorities have reopened or advanced probes in multiple jurisdictions.
• The justice system has paused the criminal proceedings until a psychiatric sanity exam scheduled for June 26 is completed, a result that will affect legal responsibility and possible security or treatment measures.