BELO HORIZONTE, Minas Gerais– A kidnapping investigation led police to discover a young woman held captive for more than 20 years in the state of Minas Gerais. Last week a 7 year old girl was kidnapped from a craft fair in Contagem, a suburb of the state capitol Belo Holizonte.
Police circulated a composite sketch of the woman wanted in the kidnapping of the 7 year old which was recognized by an anonymous tipper.
The tip led police on Tuesday, in a case reminiscent of the Jaycee Dugard kidnapping in the US, to arrest Neli Maria Neves, 53 and her husband a retired officer in the military police. At the couple's home the police found not only the 7 year old who had been kidnapped just days before, but also a 20 year old woman who had been taken as an infant and held captive ever since.
Although neighbors did recognize the woman's face, they said that she was seen outside only rarely and always accompanied. Police said that she was never allowed to leave the house alone.
Police believe that they have identified the young woman's biological mother and are awaiting DNA tests to verify maternity before releasing her from protective custody. Officials also said that they found scheduled narcotics in the home and were investigating weather or not the drugs were used to control the young woman or the kidnapped child.
The woman had been previously arrested for killing her ex-husband in 1984. The couple were taken into custody and are being held in the state capitol, Belo Horizonte.
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Source(s) for this article: terra.com.br