A 10-year-old child used a note to report to her mother the sexual abuse she had been suffering from her stepfather in Santa Luzia, in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte. The 31-year-old man was arrested in the act by the Military Police on August 25, 2026, but was subsequently released. The justification for the release, according to the Civil Police, was the lack of sufficient requirements to maintain the prison.

Still on August 31, 2026, the Specialized Police Station for Women’s Assistance in Santa Luzia received a video that became part of the investigation. The victim’s legal representation was responsible for presenting the images, which now help in investigating the facts and identifying the circumstances of the events.

The courageous complaint made in a note by the child

The girl’s decision to report the abuse came through an emotional note, in which she expressed her exhaustion with the situation. In the text, the child revealed that the abuse had been occurring since he was 8 years old. She was initially hesitant to speak out, believing her mother was happy in the relationship. However, when she realized that her mother was no longer showing the same joy, she decided it was time to seek help. “I wanted to say this because I’m tired of it. I didn’t tell you before because I thought you were a happy couple,” the child wrote in her statement.

Details of the Civil Police investigation and the release of the suspect

After the complaint, the girl’s mother was interviewed by the authorities and judicial police measures are being taken to investigate the case. The investigation seeks to determine the authorship and circumstances of the events, with the video delivered being attached to the case files. Despite the arrest made in the act by the Military Police, the suspect was released, which generated deep revolt among the victim’s family. A request for a protective measure against the man has already been requested to ensure the safety of the child and mother.

The mother’s action to gather evidence of abuse

In an effort to confirm her daughter’s report, the child’s mother installed a temporary camera in the living room of the residence. At a certain point, the girl was sent home with the justification that she was going to take a shower, and the suspect allegedly went to the property and approached the child. These images, which contain audio, were essential for the investigation and were handed over to the delegate responsible for the case.

When confronted and discovering that the daughter had revealed the abuse to her mother, the man allegedly questioned the girl about why she hadn’t asked him to stop, instead of telling him what was happening.

The family’s fight for justice and recovery for the victim

The girl’s mother, deeply shaken, expressed her suffering. “I’m dead inside! My daughter, thank God she’s recovering,” he said. She also expressed her outrage at the suspect’s release: “I’m disgusted with his freedom, he should have been arrested.” Now, the mother’s main goal is to ensure that justice is served and that her daughter receives all the support she needs to recover from the trauma. “My fight now is for justice and treatment for my girl,” she said.

Child referral and the future of the legal process

The child was promptly taken to Odilon Behrens Hospital, located in Belo Horizonte, to receive medical and psychological care. The mother asked a nephew for help to call the police and, together, they found a Military Police vehicle on patrol. The military was alerted to the situation, located the suspect and arrested him for the crime of rape of a vulnerable person. The release of the suspect, however, poses an additional challenge in the search for justice for the family. The investigation is ongoing to collect more evidence and ensure that the case has an appropriate outcome given the seriousness of the facts.