Four Families Await Answers on Missing Persons in Minas Gerais

Disappearances in Divinópolis grew by 26% in the past year, with the majority of cases involving men. Four families from the Centro-Oeste de Minas region initiated 2026 without resolution regarding the whereabouts of their relatives who vanished in 2025. These cases continue to be actively investigated by the Polícia Civil and Polícia Militar.

Throughout the previous year, various disappearances in the region were monitored. Some concluded with tragic outcomes and confirmed crimes, while others remain open. The families of the four individuals listed below continue to mobilize, requesting information that could assist in the investigations. Authorities highlight that anonymous denunciations, even those considered simple, can be decisive in advancing these cases.

Two cases involving elderly men have persisted for nearly a year without concrete leads. Both men were last seen performing routine activities in rural or semi-rural areas.

Raimundo Almeida

Raimundo Almeida, 80 years old, disappeared on January 5, in Oliveira. According to his family, he left his home on a Sunday afternoon to buy juice and was never seen again. The case is approaching one year without a solution. The Civil Police interviewed family members, neighbors, and potential witnesses. Search efforts included the use of drones and tracking dogs, but no concrete clues were found. Investigations are ongoing.

His daughter, Elza Almeida, expressed the family's resignation regarding his survival but their need for closure. "We want the same answer, know? To know what happened to my father. Unfortunately, we have no hope of finding him alive, because practically a year has passed. But we need to know what happened. If they did something, who did it," she stated.

Sinezio Bello dos Santos

Another unresolved case is that of Sinezio Bello dos Santos, 84, who disappeared in March 2025 in the rural community of Queixada, in Pains. He left to look for cows at a family farm and did not return. The Fire Department conducted searches in the forested areas of the region but found no traces.

His daughter, Tatiane Sodré, noted that her father knew the area well and had no health issues. "My father was born and raised in this region 84 years ago. He has been doing this route his whole life and knows this forest like no one else," she said. The family continues to wait for information. "It will be a year in March and to this day not a single clue. There is nothing I can do to find my father," Tatiane added.

Two more recent cases involve a ride-share driver and a teenager, both disappearing in Nova Serrana and Divinópolis in late 2025.

Fábio Rodrigues da Silva

Fábio Rodrigues da Silva, 41, a ride-share driver, has been missing since September 13 in Nova Serrana. His car was found inside a crater in the São José neighborhood containing his documents, keys, and cell phone. However, Fábio was not located. His wife, Diully Alves da Silva Rodrigues, stated that this behavior was not typical for him.

The family reported that Fábio completed a ride to Pará de Minas around 9:15 PM and returned to Nova Serrana about an hour and a half later. The last vehicle registration occurred in the early morning hours at the location where the car was discovered.

Kaynam Lucas dos Santos

The fourth case involves Kaynam Lucas dos Santos, 17, a resident of Nova Serrana. He has been missing since December 5, when he was last seen disembarking at the Divinópolis bus station. Since then, the family has received no news of his whereabouts.

The pain was compounded on December 25, which was Kaynam's birthday. His mother, Elisange Cassimiro Lopes, shared her grief: "I never spent such a sad Christmas in my life. I know nothing about my son. I've only been crying since he disappeared. I can't do anything else."

As 2026 begins, the search continues for four individuals missing across the Centro-Oeste de Minas region. From elderly men vanishing during daily routines to a driver leaving his vehicle in a crater and a teen disappearing at a bus station, the circumstances vary, but the pain for the families is shared. The Polícia Civil maintains that public assistance remains vital. Citizens with any information regarding these disappearances are urged to contact authorities anonymously.