A man in Brazil has been arrested after allegedly imprisoning his wife and seven children for 22 years, in a case drawing comparisons to Austrian monster Josef Fritzl. The 54-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, was caught when one of his daughters drugged him and escaped to report him to police.
Officers raided the home in Novo Oriente, Ceará, and discovered three foetuses buried in the garden, the most recent from eight months ago. The suspect's wife, now 40, told police she had been held captive since she was 17 and was forced to have three abortions. One daughter suffered an unsuccessful abortion of a six-month-old foetus, which survived and was rescued by a midwife, but the father refused medical help for the sickly child.
Police say the suspect sexually abused his daughters and his late mother-in-law. He drilled holes in walls to watch the girls undress and bathe. The seven children, aged three to 22, have been rescued. The mother and children have been moved to another state for protection.
Police spokesperson Herika Ribeiro Sena said: 'The victim only left home to receive benefits and, many times, was accompanied by him. None of the neighbours knew her, not even relatives had access to her.' The suspect has been charged with false imprisonment, rape of a vulnerable person, psychological violence, abortion and concealment of a corpse. The investigation continues.
