Man 'locked wife in cellar for 16 years'

[Feuer Frei!]

A MAN has been arrested in southeastern Brazil for allegedly keeping his wife locked in a cellar for 16 years. Police acting on a tip-off found the 64-year-old woman padlocked in a moldy, filth-ridden cellar.
She was discovered lying naked on a concrete bed in the 12 square meter (130 square foot) room, with only a blanket to cover her, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Joao Batista Groppo, the woman's husband of 40 years, told police that he kept her locked away because she was mentally ill.
The 64-year-old suspect reportedly told officers he did not provide her with any form of lighting to avoid wasting energy.


During the woman's alleged imprisonment, Groppo shared the house in Sorocaba, about 60 miles (97 km) west of Sao Paulo, with his girlfriend Maria Aparecida Furquim, the paper said.
She was arrested Wednesday as an alleged accomplice.
The couple was charged with false imprisonment, authorities said. They could each face eight years in prison if convicted.


*Note underlined. 8 years? Wait...what?
Another clear cut case of the justice system failing, and not being harsh enough.
Certainly, if found guilty, shouldn't they both serve at least 16 years? Each?
The length of time the victim allegedly was 'imprisoned'?
The other operative word being 'could'.
They could face jail.
Seems only fair.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

*Note underlined. 8 years? Wait...what?
Another clear cut case of the justice system failing, and not being harsh enough.
Certainly, if found guilty, shouldn't they both serve at least 16 years? Each?
The length of time the victim allegedly was 'imprisoned'?
The other operative word being 'could'.
They could face jail.
Seems only fair.

Same thoughts here...

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

A MAN has been arrested in southeastern Brazil for allegedly keeping his wife locked in a cellar for 16 years.

I can sense from your intonation that you think there is a problem with this?



<The Frau comes into my office>

SMACK!

Ow! I am kidding! Just kidding!!

[Platapus]

Seriously, though, These are just the initial charges. They have to be charged with something to start the process. Under Brazilian law, the prosecutors can only file the final charges after the police investigation.

Let's wait until we hear the final list of charges before getting upset.

And it appears that he locked her up for "only" 8 years. The sad thing is that this was confirmed by his son.

His son.

What kind of son allows his father to lock up his mother even if for "only" 8 years? That is one messed up family.

You wanna really get anger? Guess who they released the wife to when she was released from the hospital?

The son. I hope, really hope it was a different son. I really do.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Seriously, though, These are just the initial charges. They have to be charged with something to start the process. Under Brazilian law, the prosecutors can only file the final charges after the police investigation.

Let's wait until we hear the final list of charges before getting upset.

And it appears that he locked her up for "only" 8 years. The sad thing is that this was confirmed by his son.

His son.

What kind of son allows his father to lock up his mother even if for "only" 8 years? That is one messed up family.

You wanna really get anger? Guess who they released the wife to when she was released from the hospital?

The son. I hope, really hope it was a different son. I really do.

I'll second that

[gimpy117]

I think its the initial charge because they stated she was "mentally Ill".

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by gimpy117

I think its the initial charge because they stated she was "mentally Ill".

Hardly suprising after so many years of incarceration.

I can sense from your intonation that you think there is a problem with this?

There is a problem with this, a big problem.
Who does the cleaning?
The poor fella had to get another woman in just to do the housework.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Hardly suprising after so many years of incarceration.

Indeed.

Give them life especially the husband.

none of you know the whole story behind this so lets not be too quick to make assumptions based on "your" idea of the situation as you imagined it to be.

most mentally ill people can be more then a handfull to control and can be a real danger to you and your family as well as strangers who happen by.

im not saying this situation is excusable but most countries dont have any systems in place to care for "out of control" people with mental illnesses so it is possible that keeping her locked up was the best way to care for her while preventing her from being a danger to herself and others. the fact that the whole family was aware of the situation makes me believe they thought it was the best way to care for her and keep her and those around her safe.

i have witnessed mentally ill people show unprovoked agression and soil themselves and their bedding so often it could explain why they didnt bother to put clothes on her or give her bedding.

i tend to agree with your thoughts so far but untill the whole story is known we shouldnt rush to condemn based only on opinion and very few facts. it didnt say she had been abused in any other way then being locked up so maybe they really did care about her.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

There is a problem with this, a big problem.
Who does the cleaning?
The poor fella had to get another woman in just to do the housework.

No, mesr mcbee no come out now.

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by Webster

none of you know the whole story behind this so lets not be too quick to make assumptions based on "your" idea of the situation as you imagined it to be.

We certainly don't know the 'finer' details of the story, however it is clear enough what the charges are against the defendents:

Police acting on a tip-off found the 64-year-old woman padlocked in a moldy, filth-ridden cellar.
She was discovered lying naked on a concrete bed in the 12 square meter (130 square foot) room, with only a blanket to cover her

most mentally ill people can be more then a handfull to control and can be a real danger to you and your family as well as strangers who happen by.

True enough, and?

im not saying this situation is excusable

No problem

but most countries dont have any systems in place to care for "out of control" people with mental illnesses so it is possible that keeping her locked up was the best way to care for her while preventing her from being a danger to herself and others.

Really? The best way to care for this woman or others possibly in countries that don't have a proper system in place is to lock them up? Or padlock them in a cellar for 16 years? Hmm...I know that they aren't your viewpoints of how to care for someone.

the fact that the whole family was aware of the situation makes me believe they thought it was the best way to care for her and keep her and those around her safe.

Well, they certainly kept her safe, didn't they? She wasn't going to harm anyone or herself, for 16 years. The family, as a whole should then be charged. Accessories, me thinks.

i have witnessed mentally ill people show unprovoked agression and soil themselves and their bedding so often it could explain why they didnt bother to put clothes on her or give her bedding.

Yes, it's not a pleasant experience to say the least, i have had experience with mentally and/or physically-disabled people and the traumas that go along with their plights, and that i think is a 'minor' point in this abhorrant act of 'keeping someone safe' so they don't harm themselves, or others.

we shouldnt rush to condemn based only on opinion

who's opinion? The media's? See quote above of the fact, of how the police found the woman.

it didnt say she had been abused in any other way then being locked up so maybe they really did care about her.

Yep, certainly a strange way of showing a family member of how they care about them. Even more of a reason to throw the full book at them.

Edit: BBC reports the confinement was revised to: 'up to 8 years', possibly more.
But wether 8 years or 16, the way this woman was 'cared for' is inexcusable, "unfit for animals" as the BBC article quotes! The penalty should be severe, nonetheless.

[Reece]

What a nasty (sick) family, I hope appropriate justice is served... soon!

[Neptune#1]

They should put him in the cellar for 16 years with no light bulb.

[Stealth Hunter]

He's a Josef Fritzl copycat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritzl_case