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Brazil man freed 'after 20 years in captivity' Brazil man freed 'after 20 years held by family'
(about 5 hours later)
Brazilian police have rescued by chance a man who neighbours said had been held in captivity by his own family for more than 20 years. Brazilian police have rescued a man who neighbours said had been held in captivity by his own family for more than 20 years.
The 36-year-old man was found during an unrelated anti-drug raid in a poor area of the south-eastern city of Guarulhos. The 36-year-old was found by chance during an unrelated anti-drug raid in a poor area of the city of Guarulhos.
Police said he was malnourished and could not speak or stand up. Witnesses said his beard, which almost reached his waistline, was covered in faeces. Police said he was malnourished and had signs of mental health problems.
Neighbours said the man had disappeared when he was 16. Neighbours said he was an outgoing student who was regularly beaten by his stepmother before he suddenly disappeared when he was 16.
They identified him as Armando Bezerra de Andrade. They told Agora newspaper that he was an outgoing student who was regularly beaten by his stepmother, before suddenly vanishing. He has been identified as Armando Bezerra de Andrade. He was taken to a local hospital in the south-eastern city and police said he was unable to talk.
Pictures of the room where the man was found showed only a bed and a dirty toilet. Reports said the walls had chains.Pictures of the room where the man was found showed only a bed and a dirty toilet. Reports said the walls had chains.
Officials said the victim had signs of mental health problems, and was taken to a local hospital.
There was no-one else in the house when the police stormed it. Neighbours said the man's father, stepmother and her son used to live there.There was no-one else in the house when the police stormed it. Neighbours said the man's father, stepmother and her son used to live there.
Mr Andrade's father later went to a police station and told officers that the victim had fled the house when he was a teenager. He returned last week, the father claimed, asking to be kept by the family in the room because he was a drug user.Mr Andrade's father later went to a police station and told officers that the victim had fled the house when he was a teenager. He returned last week, the father claimed, asking to be kept by the family in the room because he was a drug user.
Tests will now determine if there was any recent use of drugs or medicine.
Police said the father, who was not arrested, was being charged with false imprisonment. The investigation continues.Police said the father, who was not arrested, was being charged with false imprisonment. The investigation continues.