Woman, 37, adopted by couple for 14 months after she posed as 12-year-old

The woman was arrested after a relative alerted police, with officers saying she had allegedly carried out similar identity fraud scams under different false identities

A 37-year-old woman drank from a baby bottle as part of an alleged ruse to pose as a 12-year-old girl. “Gabriele” was adopted by an unsuspecting couple and lived with them for a year – and even enjoyed a birthday bash hosted by her “parents”.

The bizarre case came to light when police apprehended the suspect at the family’s residence in the Pirabeiraba district of Joinville, Brazil, on 2nd June.

The authorities stated that the suspect, who had attempted the same ruse previously, used the alias “Gabriele” and persuaded a local family to take her in after alleging she had escaped abuse in the northern state of Para. Local media reported her real name is Amanda Maria Sousa Oliveira.

According to the investigators, the suspect initially approached a church in Joinville and informed a pastor that she had fled from mistreatment.

Members of the religious community reportedly began providing her with financial assistance and found her a place to stay before the family eventually took her into their home. The police said the couple developed an emotional bond with the suspect and treated her as their own child for approximately 14 months.

Investigators revealed that the 37-year-old claimed to be suffering from autism and other medical conditions to justify her adult appearance. She also allegedly told the family that she had been forced to take hormones as a child due to abuse, which she asserted resulted in her mature features.

Detectives stated that the suspect adopted childlike behaviour to sustain the deception, including using baby bottles, dummies and a comfort blanket for sleep. The police also reported that she feigned panic attacks during her time with the family.

The woman reportedly spoke in a high-pitched voice and acted emotionally dependent to gain attention and sympathy throughout the night. The unsuspecting family even threw a 12th birthday party for her, paid for obesity medication, and considered formally adopting her.

Investigators revealed that she consistently avoided discussions about official adoption procedures and never had identification documents on her. Detective Rodrigo Bueno Gusso stated that the suspect persuaded the family not to enrol her in school by claiming her abusive father would find her.

The scam was only exposed after a family member tipped off the police, sparking an investigation. Authorities reported that the suspect confessed during questioning and was charged with fraud and false identity offences before being taken to Joinville Regional Prison.

Police also disclosed that she had previous records for similar scams in the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Goias. This included a 2023 case in Nova Iguacu where she allegedly posed as a 12-year-old girl named “Maria Eduarda”, with local media reporting her real name as Amanda Maria Sousa Oliveira.

In that instance, the suspect claimed to be autistic and said she had suffered abuse and witchcraft rituals, convincing a former city councillor and the head of a social project for vulnerable children to support her and even rent and furnish a home for her. Police revealed that she inserted up to 100 needles into her own body to corroborate the story that she had been abused.

Although she was taken into custody in relation to the 2023 case, she was released the following day after a court granted her temporary freedom under precautionary measures.

There are no records of a final sentence or trial verdict for her under the names mentioned.

Due to her frequent relocations between various states using different false identities, her previous cases were still open or active at the time of her most recent arrest, rather than having resulted in a final conviction.

As it stands, she is currently being held at the Joinville Regional Prison facing her present charges.