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A routine evening turned into a nightmare for Luciana Curtis, the model daughter of British businessman Malcolm Leo Curtis. Luciana, her husband, Henrique Gendre, and their 11-year-old child were abducted at gunpoint outside a restaurant in São Paulo on Wednesday night. The family was forced into their car and driven to a cramped wooden shack in the Brasilândia district, where they were held hostage for 12 grueling hours.
The situation started in Alto do Lapa, an affluent neighborhood in São Paulo. The armed assailants, believed to be part of an organized gang, targeted the family as they exited the eatery. Reports indicate the abductors transferred money from the couple's bank accounts and abandoned their stolen vehicle after securing the funds. Luciana, her husband, and their youngest child endured the night with only a mattress, a toilet, and a sink in the sparse hideaway.
The alarm was raised the following morning when the family's eldest child, who had stayed home, noticed their absence and informed a relative. The relative promptly contacted authorities, prompting a swift response from São Paulo's specialized anti-kidnap unit. "The armed criminals approached the victims outside a restaurant and took them captive," police confirmed in a statement.
The gang released the family as the police search intensified. Stranded, Luciana and her family sought help from locals, who guided them to safety. A spokesperson later assured media outlets, "The family has been released and they are safe and well."
Luciana, 47, is a prominent fashion model with an illustrious career. She gained recognition in 1993 after becoming a finalist in the global Supermodel of the World competition. Over the years, she has graced the covers of Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Elle Brazil. A frequent collaborator with high-profile brands like Victoria's Secret and Revlon, Luciana has lived between New York, London, and São Paulo.
The shack where the family was held has since been located by detectives, and CCTV footage from the restaurant area is under analysis. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to apprehend the gang responsible. The incident has drawn attention to the persistent issue of violent crime in São Paulo, a city known for its socioeconomic disparities.
