Woman who pretended to be a teenager is charged with embezzlement in SC

The 37-year-old woman who pretended to be a 12-year-old teenager to carry out scams was indicted this Friday (5) by the Civil Police of Santa Catarina for the crimes of misrepresentation and embezzlement. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was arrested in the state of Santa Catarina last Tuesday (2).

According to delegate Rodrigo Bueno Gusso, responsible for the investigation, the police investigation was forwarded to the Judiciary. The Public Ministry confirmed receipt and is now analyzing the document. Now, it is up to the Prosecutor's Office to decide whether to report Amanda for the crimes or request more evidence from the police.

Lawyer Rafael Luiz Siewert, responsible for Amanda's defense, reported that "after analyzing the records and interviewing the person in custody, the defense identified elements that justified the request for a mental health examination".

According to him, the request was accepted by the Court, which ordered an official examination to assess the woman's mental condition. Furthermore, he stated that he is awaiting the results of the technical expertise, which do not yet have a defined date, and for now he will not comment on the merits of the facts.

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"I was appointed as the defendant's defender, since the Public Defender's Office does not act before the Guarantees Court of the District of Joinville.

After analyzing the records and interviewing the person in custody, the defense identified elements that justified the request for a mental health examination. The request was accepted by the Court, which ordered an official examination to assess his mental condition.

At this moment, the person being investigated remains at the disposal of Justice due to the decision that converted the arrest in flagrante delicto into preventive detention and the need to carry out the already determined expert examination.

The defense awaits the conclusion of the technical expertise, which may contribute to the adequate clarification of the circumstances related to the case and to the adoption of appropriate procedural measures.

Out of respect for the progress of the investigations and the rights of the person being investigated, no comments will be made on the merits of the facts at this time."

Understand the case
A 37-year-old woman was arrested, this Tuesday (2), for the crimes of embezzlement and misrepresentation after pretending to be a 12-year-old teenager, in Joinville, Santa Catarina. The suspect was adopted by a family, but it was a relative who became suspicious of the story and took the case to the authorities.

According to investigations, the person who made the complaint was an aunt who belonged to the woman's adoptive family. Before contacting the police, the family member spoke to the suspect's adoptive father, who did not believe in the possibility of a scam at first.

However, after searching the internet, the man discovered that the suspect had already committed the same crime in other locations. As a result, the family chose to take the case to public security agents, who made contact with investigators from other states to gather information.

Based on preliminary analyses, the police discovered the woman's original identity and her criminal records were found in five other states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Goiás.

How a woman deceived her family
According to the PCSC (Civil Police of Santa Catarina), the woman used the false name "Gabriele" and pretended to be a teenager. She lived with her adoptive family for about a year.

The case began when the suspect entered a church in the city of Joinville (SC) and reported having been a victim of mistreatment by her biological father.

The local pastor welcomed her and then introduced her to a family that attended services. She gained the trust of her entire social circle.

To support the disguise and justify her appearance as an adult, she claimed to have autism and said that her features were the result of the forced use of hormones during childhood.

Bottle, pacifier and "smell"
Investigations indicate that, at home, the woman exhibited "infantile behavior", such as using bottles, pacifiers and even "smells" to sleep.

According to police chief Rodrigo Bueno Gusso, she still had a room of her own, painted pink and with decorations for children. The offender also pretended to suffer panic attacks, insecurities about sleeping alone and asked her adoptive mother to put her to bed.

When her parents talked about enrolling her in schools or adopting her through legal means, the woman said she didn't want that to happen. The justification was that, if that happened, her biological father would come after her.

The suspect confessed to the crime to police authorities during formal interrogation. After her arrest in the act for the crimes of embezzlement and false identity, she was sent to the Joinville Regional Prison, where she will remain at the disposal of the Justice.

Source: CNN