“I was in captivity”, says socialite who accuses former driver of keeping her imprisoned for 10 years

According to neighbors, the socialite stopped being seen in the building’s common areas 10 years ago (Photo: Reproduction, TV Globo)

Socialite Regina Gonçalves accuses her former driver of keeping her trapped in an apartment in the Chopin building, located in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, for 10 years. However, it was only in May 2022 that neighbors made an anonymous report to the Public Prosecutor’s Office due to the resident’s disappearance. The information is from g1.

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This Sunday (28), Regina spoke for the first time about the case in an exclusive interview with Fantástico. According to her, José Marcos Chaves Ribeiro, the former driver, prevented her from having contact with other people.

— He took out his cell phone…. I lived like this… Without being able to have contact with anyone. And everything the way he thought and then left, I stayed. I was in captivity — she told Fantástico.

Resident of luxury building in Rio de Janeiro disappears, mobilizes neighbors and shocking reason comes to light

Regina was known for throwing extravagant parties in the luxurious 1,000-square-meter apartment, in an upscale area of ​​Rio de Janeiro, where she lived. Widowed and childless, she inherited a billion-dollar fortune when her husband, Nestor Gonçalves, died 30 years ago. He was a farmer, businessman and even owned the graphics park that produced Copag decks, popular in Brazil.

According to neighbors, 10 years ago, the socialite stopped being seen in the building’s common areas. At the time, they tried to contact Regina, but to no avail. Residents stated that her phones were used and always answered by Regina’s former driver.

On calls or in person, he always came with evasive denials, claiming illness so they wouldn’t speak directly to her. Fantástico tried to contact José Marcos, but without success.

Love relationship

According to José Marcos, the two had a loving relationship and registered a stable union in 2021, when he was 50 years old and she was 85. Regina, however, denies that the two lived together.

— He was just a chauffeur and an unqualified chauffeur — she says.

Regina’s lawyers say they will challenge the deed of stable union between the two. The news of an alleged romance between the two shocked family and close friends. Carlos Queiroz, Regina’s nephew, says he was suspicious.

— Because of her age. She had made a pact. After my uncle, her husband, died, she would never marry again. She was in love with him. It was all for him, for her, right? I thought it was strange — says the nephew.

See photos

Chopin Building, in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro (Reproduction)

Regina Gonçalves is currently 88 years old (Photo: Disclosure)

She was allegedly the victim of a scam by a driver who took money, jewelry and valuables

Regina is a socialite from Rio de Janeiro (Photo: Custodio Coimbra, Agência O Globo)

Regina Gonçalves would have been the victim of a scam by the driver (Photo: Vera Donato Archive)

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Escape

Regina stayed with José Marcos in the apartment for 14 years. On January 2nd of this year, she managed to leave alone and went to the house of her only living brother who also lives in Copacabana. According to the socialite, it was an escape.

— I decided to run away. I decided to put an end to it. The day I went to look for my brother’s house, they were scared. I had lost more than 30 kilos. It was pure bone — he says.

The family says they were horrified by her health and filed a request for protection for the socialite. The court granted the protective measure the next day and José Marcos has to stay at least 250 meters away from her.

— How many women her age go through similar situations? So it means she is a double victim. She is a victim because she is a woman and a victim because she is elderly. It is very difficult for the victim’s words, at this age, to be truly recognized. And she speaks with great grandeur about what she went through — says Regina’s lawyer.

On January 6, police went to the apartment. But, according to the agents’ reports, the doormen said that José Marcos left when he saw the car arriving. Days later, José Marcos declared to the court that Regina only left home because she had an episode resulting from her fragile state and mental confusion.

Even with the protective measure, he obtained the right to be her curator in court and gained powers to manage the socialite’s entire assets — just as was stipulated in the stable union.

What José Marcos’ defense says

In addition to looking for José Marcos, the report also tried to speak to the former driver’s defense about the accusations made by Regina’s family by phone and messages. However, the lawyer stated that he would not give interviews.

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