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Brazilian man 'held captive' inside home for at least 20 years

A man has been rescued by police after allegedly being held captive by his father and step-mother in the basement of their home for at least 20 years.

Armando Bezerra de Andrade, now aged 36, was found by chance after officers carried out a drug raid in a poor neighbourhood near Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Andrade was reportedly found “chained to his bed in shackles”. He could barely speak, and his beard was "down to his knees" and covered in human waste, according to local media.

The 36-year-old was found by police, by accident. Image: Globo News
The 36-year-old was found by police, by accident. Image: Globo News

Neighbours told police his stepmother often beat him in public before he “disappeared” when he was 16 or 17 years old, according to Brazilian media.

The bed where the victim allegedly was kept for more than two decades. Image: Globo News
The bed where the victim allegedly was kept for more than two decades. Image: Globo News
The room was reportedly full of human waste. Image: Globo News
The room was reportedly full of human waste. Image: Globo News

After the raid, there were reports the victim’s father said his son had returned the previous week and asked to be locked in the room because he was a drug addict. Police reportedly do not believe the father’s story and are investigating.

Police reportedly said they were concerned the victim was drugged. Image: Globo News
Police reportedly said they were concerned the victim was drugged. Image: Globo News
Witnesses said the victim looked malnourished. Image: Globo News
Witnesses said the victim looked malnourished. Image: Globo News

Police chief Celso Marchiori told reporters: “He got up, very impaired and didn't speak a word. We took him outside and he still didn't say anything. We didn't know if he was scared or drugged.

“It is an unhealthy place, he would not have survived. There is no light.”

Witnesses said he had “enormous toenails and fingernails” and looked “malnourished”.

Andrade as a teenager, before he was allegedly held captive. Image: Pinterest
Andrade as a teenager, before he was allegedly held captive. Image: Pinterest

Andrade’s father and step-mother have since fled and are still on the run.

Ederson Silva, a childhood friend of Armando told local media, “Whenever we asked about him they always said they same thing, no, he's living in the northeast, he's well, he's working, he's building his family there. That's all they said to us.”

Andrade is now being cared for in hospital. Image: Folha
Andrade is now being cared for in hospital. Image: Folha

Andrade is currently in the psychiatric ward in hospital, reportedly too traumatised to speak.

Top news stories - October 26