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Guaratuba child murders

SOLVED1992Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On April 6, 1992, six-year-old Evandro Ramos Caetano disappeared while walking home from school in Guaratuba, Brazil. Five days later, his body was found in a thicket. The body showed extensive evidence of violence and mutilation, including the removal of body parts and organs. For years, questions persisted over whether the recovered body was actually Evandro's, a matter eventually addressed through DNA and dental arch testing.

The public prosecutor's office of Paraná indicted Celina Abagge, the wife of Guaratuba's mayor, and her daughter, Beatriz Cordeiro Abbagge, alleging they had requested the kidnapping and murder of Evandro with the intent of using the corpse in a human sacrifice ritual. A pai-de-santo (a religious leader in Afro-Brazilian traditions), Oswaldo Marcineiro, along with a painter, Vicente de Paula Ferreira, and an artisan, Davi dos Santos Soares, were indicted for allegedly performing the ritual. Francisco Sérgio Cristofolini and Airton Bardelli dos Santos were also indicted for participation in the crime.

Some of those indicted reportedly confessed to involvement in the kidnapping of another child, eight-year-old Leandro Bossi, which led to speculation about possible connections to the disappearances of six to eight other children in Guaratuba that same year. Police at the time stated they had no evidence to support such connections.

The case became known for numerous complicating factors, including a rivalry between military and civil police forces, allegations of confessions obtained under torture, allegations of kidnapping tied to the investigation, and claims of political interference in the legal proceedings.

On March 23, 1998, Beatriz and Celina were tried for the first time, in what became the longest jury trial in Brazilian legal history, lasting 34 days; both were found not guilty. In 1999, that verdict was invalidated, and a new trial began in May 2011. In this second trial, Beatriz was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison. In 2016, her sentence was legally forgiven on the grounds that she was the mother of a minor child.

Separately, Osvaldo Marcineiro, Vicente de Paula Ferreira, and Davi dos Santos Soares were convicted in 2004 in connection with the case, while Francisco Sérgio Cristofolini and Airton Bardelli dos Santos were acquitted in 2005.

By 2016, the case's official archive reportedly comprised 60 volumes and more than twenty thousand pages, reflecting its status as one of the longest-running legal cases in Brazil. The case later drew renewed public attention through the audio documentary Projeto Humanos and a 2021 Globoplay docuseries.

Key facts

Victims
Evandro Ramos Caetano, Leandro Bossi
Date
1992
Location
Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1992-04-06

    Six-year-old Evandro Ramos Caetano disappears while walking home from school in Guaratuba, Brazil.

  2. 1992-04-11

    Evandro's body is found in a thicket in Guaratuba, showing signs of mutilation and missing organs.

  3. 1998-03-23

    Celina Abagge and Beatriz Cordeiro Abbagge stand trial for the first time, in what becomes the longest jury trial in Brazilian legal history, lasting 34 days; both are acquitted.

  4. 1999

    The 1998 jury verdict is invalidated.

  5. 2004

    Osvaldo Marcineiro, Vicente de Paula Ferreira, and Davi dos Santos Soares are convicted in connection with the case.

  6. 2005

    Francisco Sérgio Cristofolini and Airton Bardelli dos Santos are acquitted.

  7. 2011-05

    A new trial of Beatriz Cordeiro Abbagge begins; she is found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison.

  8. 2016

    Beatriz Cordeiro Abbagge's sentence is legally forgiven due to her being the mother of a minor; the case's official archive is reported to have 60 volumes and over twenty thousand pages.

  9. 2021-05-13

    The docuseries The Evandro Case: A Devilish Plot is released by Globoplay.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Evandro Ramos Caetano

    VICTIM

    Six-year-old boy who disappeared and was found murdered and mutilated in Guaratuba in 1992.

  • Davi dos Santos Soares

    CONVICTED

    Artisan indicted for allegedly performing the ritual involving Evandro's body; convicted in 2004.

  • Celina Abagge

    ACQUITTED

    Wife of Guaratuba's mayor; indicted for allegedly requesting the kidnapping and murder of Evandro; acquitted in the 1998 trial.

  • Beatriz Cordeiro Abbagge

    CONVICTED

    Daughter of Celina Abagge; indicted for allegedly requesting the kidnapping and murder of Evandro; acquitted in 1998, later found guilty in a 2011 retrial and sentenced to 21 years, with the sentence legally forgiven in 2016.

  • Vicente de Paula Ferreira

    CONVICTED

    Painter indicted for allegedly performing the ritual involving Evandro's body; convicted in 2004.

  • Francisco Sérgio Cristofolini

    ACQUITTED

    Indicted for participation in the crime; acquitted in 2005.

  • Oswaldo Marcineiro

    CONVICTED

    Pai-de-santo indicted for allegedly performing the ritual involving Evandro's body; convicted in 2004.

  • Leandro Bossi

    VICTIM

    Eight-year-old child whose kidnapping some indicted individuals reportedly confessed to being involved in.

  • Airton Bardelli dos Santos

    ACQUITTED

    Indicted for participation in the crime; acquitted in 2005.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil

-25.8836, -48.5744

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
In 1992, six-year-old Evandro Ramos Caetano disappeared and was found murdered and mutilated in Guaratuba, Brazil, sparking one of the longest-running legal cases in Brazilian history, involving allegations of ritual murder, torture, and decades of trials.
Where did the murders happen?
Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil.
Who was convicted?
Davi dos Santos Soares (Artisan indicted for allegedly performing the ritual involving Evandro's body; convicted in 2004.), Beatriz Cordeiro Abbagge (Daughter of Celina Abagge; indicted for allegedly requesting the kidnapping and murder of Evandro; acquitted in 1998, later found guilty in a 2011 retrial and sentenced to 21 years, with the sentence legally forgiven in 2016.), Vicente de Paula Ferreira (Painter indicted for allegedly performing the ritual involving Evandro's body; convicted in 2004.), and Oswaldo Marcineiro (Pai-de-santo indicted for allegedly performing the ritual involving Evandro's body; convicted in 2004.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Brazil

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICGuaratuba child murdersWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — Associated PressAssociated Press · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — gazetadopovo.com.brgazetadopovo.com.br · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 10, 2026