Authorities in northeastern Brazil have apprehended a nurse technician accused of attempting to abduct a newborn from the hospital where she was employed. Auricelia de Sousa Rocha, aged 30, was detained following an incident that took place at the Dona Evangelina Rosa Maternity Hospital in Teresina, Piauí, on July 6.
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Multiple local news outlets reported that security cameras captured Rocha during the alleged kidnapping attempt, which raised alarm bells among hospital staff and patients. At the time of the incident, she was reportedly off duty, raising further questions regarding her access to the maternity ward.
Footage obtained from the hospital shows Rocha dressed in scrubs, including a surgical cap and mask, navigating the corridors of the facility with a large bag in tow. In a particularly alarming moment, she is filmed carrying an infant wrapped in a red blanket alongside the bag, a scene that has horrified the local community.

According to the baby’s aunt, Rocha approached her under the pretense of requiring the newborn for routine examinations. The aunt grew suspicious when Rocha took the baby into a room but later emerged without the infant, only to be seen with the large bag over her shoulder. “I handed the baby over, but I had a bad feeling about it,” the aunt commented to local media. The apprehension proved justified when she later managed to check the contents of the bag, revealing the child inside, reportedly motionless.

After this unsettling discovery, the aunt instantly alerted the authorities. Following a swift response, law enforcement officers located Rocha, who had reportedly changed out of her hospital scrubs and attempted to exit the facility. The infant’s condition at the time of recovery is currently unknown, yet the prompt action of the aunt and police likely prevented a more severe outcome.
Investigations into Rocha’s background have revealed a disturbing twist. While family members claimed she was pregnant and had prepared a nursery complete with a crib and baby essentials, police have established that she is not, in fact, expecting a child. Authorities described Rocha as acting independently in her alleged plot to kidnap the newborn.
The case is being treated as an attempted kidnapping. Local media reports indicate that Rocha’s legal representatives have suggested she may suffer from symptoms of schizophrenia; however, investigators have ruled out mental health issues as a factor in the incident.
The situation has raised urgent concerns among hospital staff and parents in the region, leading to calls for enhanced safety protocols to protect vulnerable patients, particularly newborns. The Dona Evangelina Rosa Hospital has not yet made a public statement regarding the incident, but the outcry from the community is palpable, as residents seek assurance that measures will be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the investigation progresses, both the public and Rocha’s family are left grappling with unanswered questions about her motives and the circumstances that led to such a shocking event. The legal proceedings will likely attract significant media attention in the coming weeks, as the community seeks to understand the complexities of this unsettling case.
With the authorities continuing their inquiries, Rocha remains in custody, facing serious charges that could carry substantial penalties if found guilty of attempted kidnapping. This incident not only underscores the vulnerability of newborns in hospital settings but also highlights the urgent need for vigilance in safeguarding the welfare of patients at healthcare institutions across the country.
