Autistic Girl, 4, Found Alive After 3 Days Missing in Brazil | Video

A four-year-old autistic, non-verbal girl, Alice Maciel Lacerda Lisboa, was found alive on Saturday, January 31, 2026, after being missing for three days in a rural area of Jeceaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The search for Alice, who was last seen in the Bituri district, mobilized over 100 people and 12 teams from the Minas Gerais Fire Department, according to authorities.

The circumstances of her disappearance unfolded quickly. Alice was reportedly visiting her grandmother’s home when she went missing on Thursday afternoon. Her grandmother, who was on a phone call at the time, believed Alice had gone to swim in the pool at the property, according to reports.

The rescue was aided by Guilherme, a local man who was with two friends when they heard a cry while searching. “I asked Vandinho to whistle, so Sandrin could see where we were, because he wasn’t finding us. Then he went and whistled. As soon as he whistled, we heard a scream. Then I went and said, ‘That’s not Sandrin whistling back, that’s someone… or an animal or someone screaming,’” Guilherme recounted.

Following the sound, the group approached the area where Alice was located. “Getting closer, she hid, crouching in the bushes, but we managed to get close without scaring her. She kept screaming and at one point she stood up. The moment she stood up, we started approaching calmly and then Sandrin offered her his arms,” Guilherme explained.

Upon finding Alice, the volunteers immediately went to a nearby road where firefighters, police, and Alice’s grandmother were waiting. The grandmother took Alice into her arms as soon as she saw her.

The Minas Gerais Fire Department reported that Alice was found conscious and showed no visible signs of hypothermia or dehydration. She was transported to Queluz Hospital in Conselheiro Lafaiete for further evaluation under the care of medical professionals.

Alice’s mother, Karine Maciel, stated that her daughter was wearing swimwear on the day she disappeared and frequently plays in the pool at her grandmother’s property. Karine also noted that, due to being autistic and non-verbal, Alice becomes “very stressed” in unfamiliar environments and especially when without her medication.

The case highlights a broader trend of increasing autism diagnoses in children, attributed to greater understanding and expanded diagnostic criteria, according to experts. The importance of inclusive environments and public policies to support individuals with autism and their families has also been emphasized.