A shocking case in Brazil has led to the arrest of a 51-year-old man accused of keeping his stepdaughter captive for more than two decades. The 29-year-old woman escaped on September 16, telling him she needed to take her children to a clinic—but instead went straight to the police.

Investigators say the abuse began when she was only seven. At 15, she became pregnant after he forced her into a relationship. Over the years, she had three children while being constantly monitored with surveillance cameras. “I was scared, very scared,” she told police. “He threatened me, saying our separation would only mean death.”

Officers raided the home, seizing recordings and security devices. The suspect is now facing charges including threats, coercion, and unlawful imprisonment. If convicted, he could spend more than 100 years in prison.

The case has drawn comparisons to Austrian criminal Josef Fritzl, whose crimes shocked the world in 2008. Thankfully, the woman and her children are now safe under protection.

How can society stop hidden abuse before it lasts for decades?