In a deeply emotional interview, the mother of a 10-year-old boy who was the victim of a collective rape in São Paulo's East Zone has spoken about the devastating and lasting impact the crime has had on her child. The assault, which occurred on April 21, involved five individuals: a 21-year-old man and four adolescents aged between 14 and 16. The mother's words paint a stark picture of a family grappling with unimaginable trauma.
She described a noticeable change in her son's behavior since the horrific event. "He has become quieter," she explained, noting that he was previously more talkative at home. The boy now lives in fear that people in his community will discover what happened to him, a burden no child should have to carry. The mother expressed a mix of relief over the arrests and profound sadness, stating, "This will not leave my son's head. Not anytime soon."
The crime was only reported to police two days after it took place. The investigation was triggered when the sister of one of the victims saw a video of the assault circulating on social media. This digital evidence was crucial for authorities, leading to the identification and detention of all five suspects. The adult perpetrator, Alessandro Martins dos Santos, was arrested in the state of Bahia and transferred to São Paulo. According to police, he confessed to his role in the crime and showed no remorse, with the investigating officer describing a profound "insensitivity" to the suffering caused.
The four adolescent suspects were also apprehended and confessed. In their statements, they allegedly referred to the violent acts as a "joke" or "zoeira," a characterization the police firmly rejected. The lead investigator stated that what occurred was not childish play but acts of "sadism." The legal consequences for the minors could include up to three years in a juvenile detention facility. The adult faces charges of rape of a vulnerable person, corruption of minors, and distribution of child pornography.
The mother reflected on the circumstances leading up to the crime, explaining that the perpetrators had lured the children by inviting them to fly kites. Once inside a residence, the door was locked, and the assaults began. She expressed her own guilt and anguish, questioning whether she had given her son too much freedom to play with the other boys, a trust that was horrifically betrayed.
This case has cast a spotlight on a troubling statistical trend in the city. Data from São Paulo's Public Security Secretariat reveals that the city recorded 640 cases of rape of a vulnerable person in the first quarter of 2026 alone. This is the highest figure for that period since 2017, averaging to approximately seven victims per day. Experts link this rise to factors including the circulation of violent content online, increased awareness leading to more reports, and a perceived sense of impunity. A specialist also highlighted a shortage of specialized police stations to handle cases of child sexual violence in the metropolis.
Based on reporting from g1.