Woman reports escape from private prison after attacker thought she was weak: 'I thought: I'm going to die'

He grabbed me by the hair, beat me a lot, and put me to sleep. He gave sleeping pills. Terrible, because I thought: I'm going to die.

The report is from a woman victim of false imprisonment who, subject to the control of her then partner, believed she would not survive.

According to the victim who lives in the Campinas region and preferred not to identify himself, there was a lot of fear of the worst outcome, since the attacker had many knives "everywhere".

She reports that the chance to escape came when the man believed that she no longer had the strength to react.

"He thought I was too weak and left the gate open. That's where I ran."

Days after her escape, she returned to the property accompanied by the Municipal Guard to try to recover some of the belongings she left behind, including personal objects and basic necessities. However, the man did not open the door.

Almost three months after escaping from private prison, the victim is still trying to recover from the effects of the violence.

"I thought I wasn't going to make it. The physical pain, I felt the blows to my head. Today I take medication, I go through CAPS", he said.

Although the visible marks of the attacks have disappeared over time, the emotional consequences remain present in everyday life.

"The bruises come out, but my psychological state is shaken. To this day I dream, I have nightmares," he added.

Private prison records increased in the state of São Paulo; victim in the Campinas region thought he was going to die because of the violence he suffered — Photo: Reproduction/EPTV

Control, isolation and intimidation

Experts point out that false imprisonment practiced in contexts of domestic violence is usually accompanied by mechanisms of control, isolation and intimidation.

The victim begins to have their freedom restricted and often loses contact with family, friends and support networks, which makes it difficult to report and break the abusive relationship.

According to Teresinha de Carvalho, a specialist in domestic violence, the aggressor often tries to distance the woman from any external influence that could help her leave the relationship.

"If he is unable to keep her by his side, if she doesn't even want to talk about ending the relationship, he tries to bring her into his environment, into his comfort, without her having contact with the world or with other people", he explained.

Teresinha highlights that relatives, neighbors and friends can help identify situations of violence.

⚠️ Warning signs include sudden changes in behavior, disappearance of social interaction and frequent difficulties in communication.

For the victim, reporting is essential to interrupt the cycle of violence.

"The first time it happens, women have to report it, because there will always be a second or third time," he added.

Private prison

Data from the São Paulo Civil Police show that false imprisonment records have increased in recent years.

In 2021, 629 investigations were opened. The number reached 910 in 2025, an increase of almost 45% in the period.

By September 2026, the corporation had already opened 382 investigations to investigate incidents of this type across the state.