Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, a 38-year-old woman, has been jailed for 18 months after a lengthy deception in which she convinced multiple people she was a 12-year-old girl with severe autism. Her victims, often motivated by a desire to help others, provided her with shelter, affection, and material possessions for over a decade.
Oliveira's modus operandi involved targeting church members, social workers, and charity volunteers. She would present a tragic backstory, often delivered in a childish voice, accompanied by childlike attire like Minnie Mouse T-shirts and hair bows. When questioned about appearing older than 12, she would claim to have been subjected to hormone injections by her father, forcing her into early puberty and childhood prostitution.
One couple took Oliveira into their home for over a year, painting their spare bedroom pink and throwing her a 12th birthday party. Others provided her with dolls, toys, and even baby bottles and pacifiers. One victim, Tatiane da Silva, became so emotionally invested that she had the name "Emily"—Oliveira's alias—tattooed on her wrist.
Investigators traced Oliveira's fraudulent activities back to 2010. In a recent case in Santa Catarina, she spent 14 months living with a middle-aged couple from an evangelical church, even convincing them to pay for weight-loss drugs. Her cover was blown when a relative discovered online reports of a similar case involving the same woman in Rio de Janeiro.
In another instance, Oliveira contacted a social project for abused women, initially claiming to be an 18-year-old fleeing her abusive father. She later changed her story, stating she was only 12 and feared her father, who she claimed was part of a child exploitation ring. The women involved, Viviane Henriques and Renata Magalhaes, rented her an apartment and took turns caring for her. Oliveira allegedly manipulated them, attempting to turn them against each other. She also made demands for baby items and would fake seizures or autistic breakdowns if her requests were not met.
During her time with Henriques and Magalhaes, Oliveira's behavior became increasingly alarming. She presented with wounds containing staples, claiming her father had forced them into her body during black magic rituals. On another occasion, she appeared to vomit up three sewing needles. An X-ray later revealed over 200 needles and key rings inside her body, a phenomenon that baffled medical technicians.
Police investigations uncovered evidence on Oliveira's phone suggesting she had researched how autistic individuals behave and how to depict child sex abuse. While her defense claimed mental illness, a judge found her to be of sound mind. Psychiatrists have suggested possible diagnoses such as borderline personality disorder or Munchausen syndrome, though victims question the sincerity of these claims given her research into feigning illness and abuse.
Oliveira admitted to investigators that lying had become a "way of life," but stated she did so to experience the affection she felt she was denied as a child. Her lawyer maintains that Oliveira is not seeking financial gain and has no assets. Court documents indicate she was adopted as an infant and claims her adoptive father subjected her to abuse, which her family denies.
Despite her conviction, concerns remain that Oliveira could be released from prison soon due to Brazil's overcrowded prison system and the fact that this is her first conviction. Her victims express fear that she will continue to deceive others, with one stating, "She is an extremely needy person, she will do anything to get attention."