Mother arrested after allegedly gouging out daughter's eyes before cutting and chewing her tongue

October 2024 · 3 minute read

Authorities in northeast Brazil are looking into the murder of a five-year-old girl whose mother admitted to ripping out her eyes and then cutting out a piece of her tongue before she allegedly chewed on it.

Josimare Gomes was arrested at her home in the municipality of Maravilha on Sunday and then confessed to investigators that she killed Brenda da Silva because her daughter was possessed by the devil, Brazilian outlet Folha de Alagoas reported.   

The Civil Police said Marinho da Silva made a call for help at 4pm local time after his 30-year-old daughter had locked herself in a bathroom with his granddaughter for 30 minutes and refused to open the door. 

Josimare Gomes (left) was arrested on Sunday night after she allegedly killed her five-year-old daughter, Brenda da Silva (right) by gouging out her eyes and cutting out her tongue

Josimare Gomes (left) was arrested on Sunday night after she allegedly killed her five-year-old daughter, Brenda da Silva (right) by gouging out her eyes and cutting out her tongue

Brenda's grandfather discovered her lifeless body in the bathroom of the family home in north eastern Brazil on Sunday after he saw blood pouring out of a drain outside

Brenda's grandfather discovered her lifeless body in the bathroom of the family home in north eastern Brazil on Sunday after he saw blood pouring out of a drain outside

Brenda da Silva was killed by her mother during a gruesome attack at the family home in Maravilha, Brazil. The five-year-old's mother reportedly used scissors to gouge her eyes out and to cut her tongue

Brenda da Silva was killed by her mother during a gruesome attack at the family home in Maravilha, Brazil. The five-year-old's mother reportedly used scissors to gouge her eyes out and to cut her tongue 

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The family's worries worsened when they spotted a trail of blood and water pouring out from a drain behind the home that is located in the Maravilha village of São Cristóvão.

Marinho da Silva then broke down the door and found Gomes clutching on to the scissors as Brenda da Silva was lying on the floor without her eyes and tongue.

Authorities arrived and saw Gomes praying and holding a rosary next to her daughter's corpse before they placed her under arrest. 

Investigators believe that these injuries, inflicted with a pair of scissors while she was still alive, caused her death.

It has also been reported that Gomes was sedated and then taken to the police station in the nearby municipality of Delmiro Gouveia.

Gomes reportedly gave a garbled statement to the police the following morning in a number of languages including Spanish.

It has also been reported that Gomes, who was sedated and then taken to the police station in the nearby municipality of Delmiro Gouveia, had reportedly chewed on her daughter's tongue

It has also been reported that Gomes, who was sedated and then taken to the police station in the nearby municipality of Delmiro Gouveia, had reportedly chewed on her daughter's tongue

Josimare Gomes with her daughter Brenda da Silva. Gomes confessed to the police that she had actually killed the demon inside her daughter and not the five-year-old child, who she insisted was alive

Josimare Gomes with her daughter Brenda da Silva. Gomes confessed to the police that she had actually killed the demon inside her daughter and not the five-year-old child, who she insisted was alive

In an otherwise incoherent statement, she is said to have denied gouging out her daughter's eyes and putting her daughter's tongue in her own mouth.

Gomes also told authorities that her child was still alive and instead she had killed the demon who was living inside of da Silva. 

The suspect is known to suffer from mental health issues including depression, and it is believed she carried out the attack during a psychotic episode. 

At the urging of Maravilha district attorney Kleytione Pereira, Gomes, who remains in police custody, was transferred to the Hospital of Custody and Psychiatric Treatment for a full psychological and psychiatric evaluation. 

Brenda da Silva, the five-year-old girl who was killed by her mother in Brazil on Sunday and who had her eyes gouged and a part of her tongue cut out because the woman claimed she was possessed by a demon

Brenda da Silva, the five-year-old girl who was killed by her mother in Brazil on Sunday and who had her eyes gouged and a part of her tongue cut out because the woman claimed she was possessed by a demon

Josimare da Silva is arrested by members of the Maravilha Civil Police on Sunday. Her father became worried when she was locked inside the bathroom with her five-year-old daughter. He broke down the door only to find the child dead with her eyes and a part of her tongue pulled out

Josimare da Silva is arrested by members of the Maravilha Civil Police on Sunday. Her father became worried when she was locked inside the bathroom with her five-year-old daughter. He broke down the door only to find the child dead with her eyes and a part of her tongue pulled out

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