Woman who pretended to be 12 years old in SC undergoes first hearing; understand the case
The criminal case involving Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, accused of pretending to be a 12-year-old child, will have its first hearing and trial on August 19, 2026. The information was confirmed by the woman’s defense, who will have her version presented, along with the prosecution and the defendant’s own testimony.
The accused turned 38 years old on June 10, 2026 and was detained in Joinville, in the North of Santa Catarina. She is investigated for deceiving a family, living with them for more than a year as if she were an adopted daughter. The crimes for which she is responsible are embezzlement and false identity, which can lead to prison sentences and fines, highlighting the seriousness of the conduct for the victims and justice.
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira’s defense released a statement, stating that “it will demonstrate, based on the evidence in the case file, Amanda’s innocence, highlighting the weaknesses of the accusation and the elements that support her version of the facts.” The legal path to the hearing involved several steps, as detailed by the accused’s legal representatives:
How the case progressed until the hearing was scheduled
- Amanda was arrested red handed on June 2, 2026.
- The Civil Police forwarded the investigation to the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina (MPSC).
- The MPSC formalized the complaint against Amanda for the crimes of embezzlement and false identity.
- The complaint was accepted by the Judiciary, transforming the case into a criminal proceeding.
- Amanda’s lawyers presented their written defense to the Judiciary.
- The Public Prosecutor’s Office has the opportunity to contest this defense, also in writing.
- Amanda’s defense, in turn, can present the reply.
- The hearing was then scheduled for 6pm in Joinville, with in-person attendance.
Next steps for the scheduled hearing
During the hearing, the parties involved in the process will have their statements taken. This pivotal moment will include:
- The presentation of the accusation, carried out by the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina.
- The arguments and positioning of Amanda’s defense.
- Direct testimony from Amanda herself.
After this stage of hearings, the process will move on to final arguments. At this point, both the prosecution and the defense will make their final statements on the evidence presented, formalizing their requests to the judge. The case will then be ready for sentencing, although the decision is not expected on the same day as the hearing.
The status of the accused’s mental health examination
Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira was subjected to a mental health examination by the Scientific Police on June 26, 2026. Furthermore, her lawyer, Lúcio Sousa, informed that a second examination was carried out by experts appointed by the defense itself.
Lúcio Sousa stated that the two reports presented divergent diagnoses: while the official report indicated one disease, the defense report identified three. Details of the results were not disclosed to the press, as the process is being conducted in secrecy, which prevents the revelation of information that could influence public perception of the case.
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The lawyer explained that both reports were delivered to the judge responsible for the case. These documents are considered essential probative elements, which will assist the judge in analyzing and formulating the final decision, culminating in the sentence.
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How the woman lived for more than a year with her family in Joinville
The fraud was revealed on June 2, 2026, the date on which the woman was detained at the residence of the family that had taken her in. In her testimony, Amanda admitted having replicated the same type of scam in other locations, including the cities of Curitiba, in Paraná, Nova Iguaçu, in Rio de Janeiro, and also in different states such as Minas Gerais, Goiás and Ceará.
On June 9, 2026, the Judiciary accepted the complaint formalized by the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina (MPSC) against the woman. With this acceptance, Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira officially became a defendant in the criminal case.
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For a period of 14 months, she lived in a family home in Joinville, living under the false identity of an adopted daughter, which intensifies the complexity of the case and the emotional impact on those involved.
