Palotina man arrested for suspected torture of 2-year-old stepdaughter

A 27-year-old man was arrested in Palotina, Paraná, after his 2-year-old stepdaughter arrived at a municipal early childhood education center (CMEI) with severe injuries. Staff at the facility alerted authorities after noticing bruises on the child's face, lips, and ears, as well as swelling on her nose, redness on her back, and bloodstains on her school uniform.

Investigations by the Civil Police suggest the child had suffered recurring injuries over the last two months, coinciding with the period the suspect began living with the child's mother. While the mother was reportedly unaware of the violence, the suspect was responsible for transporting the child to school.

The suspect denied the allegations, claiming the injuries resulted from falls in the home or during school transport. Authorities are investigating the case as "tortura-castigo" (torture-punishment), a crime involving the imposition of intense physical or mental suffering, which carries more severe penalties than standard mistreatment.