Raposa police rescue 95-year-old woman held in locked house

A 95-year-old woman, Bernardina dos Santos Silva, was rescued from unsanitary conditions in Raposa, Maranhão, after being held in a house locked from the outside with chains and padlocks. The rescue operation, prompted by reports from neighbors and family, required authorities to break through the locks to reach her.

Upon discovery, the elderly woman was found hungry, debilitated, and in critical health. She was immediately transported for medical care.

Samuel Silva dos Passos, the victim's grandson and designated caregiver, was arrested during the operation. He claimed he locked the house for security reasons when leaving, but investigators noted he had also been obstructing other family members from accessing the woman. A judge has maintained his arrest on suspicion of qualified false imprisonment due to the victim's age.