A New York-based model, her husband, and their child were on vacation when a dazzling night out turned into a terrible hostage situation.#NewYorkNY #NewYork #Crime #NewYork
New York, New YorkIn a terrifying story, a model from New York, her husband, and their small child were caught in the grip of armed criminals on what should have been a fun night out in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The family was shocked but alive after their ordeal, which started with a bold ambush and finished with a courageous escape.
The Ambush
On Wednesday night, the world of 47-year-old Brazilian model Luciana Curtis, her husband Henrique Gendre, a photographer, and their 11-year-old child was completely upended as they were leaving a restaurant in the posh Alto do Lapa neighborhood.
The family was encircled by a group of armed guys who pushed them into their own vehicle while brandishing their guns before sped off into the darkness.
A Night of Captivity
The frightened family was taken by the crooks to a dilapidated wooden cabin near Brasilandia, where they would suffer through a 12-hour nightmare.
They were imprisoned in the utilitarian building, which had only a sink, toilet, and mattress. The gang transferred the couple’s hard-earned money into unidentified hands as the hours passed, draining their bank accounts.
Desperate Search
The couple’s oldest child had not gone to supper with the family that fateful evening, something the kidnappers were unaware of. The oldest sounded the alarm when Luciana, Henrique, and their younger child did not come home, and family members called the police.
Police acted quickly, sending out specialist teams to search the city for the missing family. Law enforcement confirmed in an official statement that the victims were taken hostage by armed criminals who approached them outside a restaurant.
A Daring Escape
A deadly choice was made by the group as the police net became tighter. They withdrew into the darkness, abandoning their prisoners and leaving the family on their own. Shaken yet resolute, Luciana, Henrique, and their child hailed down residents and begged for assistance.
The family has been released and is safe and well, a model spokeswoman subsequently verified.
Rising Star
Luciana Curtis, who was born in Sao Paulo to British billionaire Malcolm Leo Curtis, is accustomed to being in the spotlight. The model, who splits her time between London, Sao Paulo, and New York, has been on the covers of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire.
Her outstanding résumé includes modeling assignments for high-end labels like Victoria’s Secret, Harrods, and H&M. Curtis won the coveted Supermodel of the World competition in 1993, which took place in Brazil.
Luciana Curtis and her family have gone through an unfathomable trauma, from the flash and glamour of the fashion industry to the harsh reality of being kept prisoner. The world comes together to support them and denounce the horrible crime that destroyed their sense of security as they start the protracted road to recovery. Authorities promise to bring those guilty to justice, and the search for the criminals continues.
Associated Subjects: Crime, New York, and Brazil
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