Woman suspected of killing five children will be tried by the Jury Court in Timóteo

The Court of Justice of Minas Gerais (TJMG) announced, this Tuesday (27), that Gisele Rosângela de Oliveira, a woman suspected of killing five children and trying to kill a sixth, will be tried by the Jury Court of Timóteo, in Vale do Aço. The ruling with the determination was made on October 22.

The homicides took place between 2007 and 2023, in the municipalities of Jaguaraçu and Timóteo. According to investigations by the Civil Police and the Public Ministry's complaint, Gisele repeatedly administered toxic substances, poisons and controlled medications to her children. In some episodes, she would also have used asphyxiation methods.

All victims were minors, according to the MPMG. The complaint points out that the woman considered her children as burdens and acted out of selfishness and hatred. The accusations will be submitted to the jurors for analysis.

The court also decided that Gisele will face coercion during the process, as between April and September 2025, she allegedly threatened and embarrassed witnesses and informants to interfere in the investigations.

What does the court decision say

Judge Marina Souza Lopes Ventura Aricodemes, from the Criminal and Children and Youth Court of Timóteo, considered that there is sufficient evidence to take the case to trial by the Jury Court.

In the decision, the judge stated that the definitive definition of the dynamics of the facts and the authorship of the crimes rests with the Sentencing Council, made up of jurors. She also highlighted that the absence of eyewitnesses alone is not enough to impede a trial.

The decision also mentions the results of toxicological tests and other elements gathered during the investigation. According to the judge, there is evidence that substances identified in the children's bodies had been administered during periods when they were exclusively under the care of Gisele.

Gisele will be responsible for the five deaths, specifically for homicide with qualifiers such as vile motive, use of poison or other insidious or cruel means, asphyxiation and recourse that would have made it difficult for the victims to defend themselves.

The defense asked that the accused not be submitted to the Jury Court and requested that the qualifiers be removed, alleging a lack of evidence and signs of authorship. The request was rejected.

The court also maintained Gisele's preventive detention and denied her right to appeal freely.

Accused was arrested in Portugal

Gisele was arrested in August 2025, in Coimbra, Portugal, after leaving Brazil during the investigation. She was located in an operation that involved Portuguese and Brazilian authorities and was subsequently extradited to face charges in the country.

The investigation was expanded after the death of one of the children, in 2023. The police investigation gathered information about other previous cases and identified suspicions involving five deaths of children and attempted murders.

With the pronouncement decision, the case goes to trial by the Jury Court. The date of the session was not stated in the statement released by TJMG.