A split verdict has been reached in the federal court trial of a Brazilian couple accused of helping their daughter kidnap their now 8-year-old grandson from Houston.{
A split verdict has been reached in the federal court trial of a Brazilian couple accused of helping their daughter kidnap their now 8-year-old grandson from Houston.
Carlos Otavio Guimaraes and Jemima Guimaraes were found guilty of international kidnapping and not guilty of conspiracy.
Houston Dr. Chris Brann, the child’s father, says the kidnapping happened in 2013 and that he’s been fighting to get his son back since.
Witnesses testified for eight days about the grandparents helping their daughter, Marcelle Guimaraes, secure a job abroad and enroll her son Nico in a Brazilian school as part of a plan to relocate the boy permanently to Brazil.
Chris Brann, a Houston doctor, married Marcelle Guimaraes in 2008. Their son Nicolas was born a year later.
“I never wanted it to come to this and the only thing I want is for my son to come home. I hope they will take responsibility for their actions and do everything they can to have him come home as soon as possible,” Brann said.
In 2012, Marcelle filed for divorce. The couple then shared custody of Nicolas for several months.
In 2013, Brann claimed that his ex-wife used a family wedding as a reason to let their son Nicolas travel to Brazil. Nicolas was three years old at the time.
According to a criminal complaint, Marcelle was supposed to take Nicolas to Brazil July 2 and return to Houston no later than July 20, 2013.
When Marcelle never returned, Brann filed criminal charges against his ex-wife and her parents.
The Guimaraes were arrested this spring when they returned to the U.S. to attend another grandchild’s birthday party. Marcelle and Nico have always remained in Brazil, and out of reach of U.S. prosecutors.
