A black woman kept by a white family as a slave since the age of eight and forced to live in a tiny room has been rescued after 38 years.

Madalena Gordiano, 46, who comes from a poor family, was effectively grabbed off the street by a family of teachers, who then pulled her out of school and abused her for the decades afterwards to iron, clean and look after them for no pay and with no rights.

They had even married her off to a family member, and when he later died and left her some money, they kept most of that as well.

Police say she had been living with the family in the south-eastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais since she was a child, where she was kept in conditions that have been compared to slavery.

As well as not being paid, she lived as a prisoner under her bosses’ surveillance until the end of November 2020, when she was freed by labour inspectors and the police from an apartment in the municipality of Patos de Minas.

Labour inspector Humberto Monteiro Camasmie told local media: “It was a really small room. It wouldn’t have even been three by two metres (9.8 by 6.6 ft). There were no windows. There was no ventilation. It was a really stuffy little room.

“She wasn’t registered as a worker. She didn’t have a guaranteed minimum wage or holidays. She didn’t have a paid rest period.”

She is now discovering new scenery and experiences that are routine for most but new to her, such as walking freely in a park. She is also learning how to navigate life for the first time, by paying a bill with a debit card, for example.

Madalena came across the family when she knocked on their door to ask for food. “I asked for bread to eat because I was hungry,” she told local media. “We didn’t even have bread at home.”

Madalena ended up being adopted by teacher Maria das Gracas Milagres Rigueira with the approval of Madalena’s mother, who did not have the means to raise her nine children.

However, the adoption was never formalised, and Madalena was taken out of school as soon as she arrived at her new home.

“She didn’t want me to study any more because I was a servant,” said Madalena, who was tasked with taking care of the house and of Maria’s children.

“I helped to tidy up, to cook, to clean the bathroom, to mop up the house,” she told local media, explaining that she was not allowed to play. “I didn’t even have a single doll,” she said.

After 24 years’ service, Madalena was disowned by Maria’s husband, and subsequently went to work for Maria’s son, Dalton Cesar Milagres Rigueira, who teaches at the local university. However, nothing changed, and Madalena continued to work seven days a week.

According to a neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous: “She would wake up at 4 in the morning to iron. No one was allowed to see her talking to anyone from the building. You could see that she would get scared when they arrived.”

Maria, Dalton and Dalton’s wife, Valdilene, are accused of various crimes against the woman. Dalton has spoken to the police, claiming that Madalena was offered a larger room, but refused.

He also claimed that it was Madalena who wanted to stop going to school. He also said they believed “she wouldn’t benefit from an education”, despite being a family of teachers.

Madalena reportedly married an uncle of Valdilene in 2001, but the pair did not live together. When he passed away shortly after, he left a sum of BRL 8,000 (GBP 1,184) for her. However, Dalton kept the majority, leaving her with some BRL 200-300 (GBP 30-44).

Neighbours became aware of Madalena’s situation when she started writing notes on napkins and pieces of paper, asking for small amounts of money and hygiene products. One such note read: “Lend me a bar of soap so I can shower. You’ll receive my prayer.”

After having had no contact with her family during the 14 years she lived with Dalton, Madalena was finally able to chat with her sisters via video call. She hopes to meet them in person once the situation regarding the Covid-19 pandemic improves. She has also resumed her studies.

Maria, Dalton and Valdilene are being investigated for the crimes of modern slavery, people trafficking and embezzlement.

Since 1995, some 55,000 people have been rescued from slavery in Brazil, the majority in rural areas. Last year, 14 domestic workers were rescued from conditions resembling slavery.

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