US missionary arrested after confessing to beating son in RS

A 33-year-old North American religious missionary was placed under preventive detention by the courts this Monday (6) after confessing to beating his son, in Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul. The three-year-old child is hospitalized in a very serious condition in the pediatric ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of the Hospital de Pronto Socorro, in Porto Alegre.

According to the investigation, the attacks occurred this Sunday morning (5), at the family home, in the rural area of the district of Águas Claras. To the Civil Police, the man said he attacked the child because she wouldn't say "good morning" to him.

According to delegate Luana Medeiros, who is responsible for the investigation at the Police Station Specialized in Women's Assistance, the suspect confessed to having punched his son in the chest and abdomen, and hitting the child's head against the floor.

At the time of the attacks, the child's mother was in another room of the residence and did not witness what happened. After the attack, the man handed the boy to the woman, and the two took him for treatment at Viamão Hospital.

The Military Brigade was called after the medical team noted the severity of the injuries. The man was arrested in the act, and had his arrest converted into preventive custody by the courts.

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He must be charged with attempted double homicide, for futile reasons and because the victim is under 14 years old.

The investigation found that the family has lived in Brazil for nine years and has been in Viamão for approximately six months. The couple has other children, all born in Brazil. The woman is from Japan.

According to the Civil Police, there is evidence of a history of domestic violence. In testimony, the mother reported that her husband had already demonstrated aggressive behavior in other situations.

The other children were sent for forensic examination, with the aim of checking whether they had also suffered abuse. Furthermore, the delegate informed that she requested protective measures provided for in the Henry Borel Law in favor of children.

The Civil Police works to identify, with the support of security forces from other states, the existence of previous records of violence or assistance from the Guardianship Council involving the family in the locations where they previously lived.

Source: CNN