Jessica Biscaia was just 3 years old when she died after arriving at a hospital in Setúbal in cardiac arrest. The autopsy revealed bruises, multiple injuries, and signs of prolonged violence.
But the hardest part of the case to understand happened before she arrived at the hospital.
As Portuguese courts later determined, Jessica had spent five days at the home of Ana Pinto, known as “Tita”, after her mother handed her over as collateral for a debt related to alleged witchcraft services intended to save her romantic relationship. During those days, the girl was brutally abused. Her mother knew where she was but did not alert the police.
When Jessica was finally returned to her, the girl was already in extremely serious condition. The courts determined that her mother knew how serious her condition was and still waited about six hours before seeking help.
In 2025, Portugal’s Supreme Court upheld her 25-year prison sentence for qualified homicide by failure to provide assistance. The couple responsible for the house and their daughter were also sentenced to the maximum terms.
Jessica was not only a victim of those who beat her. She was also caught in a chain of decisions by adults who, over five days, had opportunities to save her and did not.