Family Thought 38-Year-Old Was Tween Girl for Entire Year
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, a 38-year-old woman in Brazil, posed as a 12-year-old girl named Gabriele for over a year to live with a couple in Joinville, who supported her financially and emotionally.
- Oliveira allegedly created a fake identity and manipulated families across multiple Brazilian states since the late 2000s to gain housing, support, and avoid formal adoption or schooling.
- She convinced the couple she was autistic and claimed hormonal abuse by her father to explain her appearance, adopting childlike behaviors and dressing in Minnie Mouse attire to maintain the deception.
- The scheme was uncovered after a relative found earlier reports about her online, leading to Oliveira’s arrest; she is currently in custody awaiting a psychiatric evaluation to determine her fitness for trial.