ACTON, MA – A 16-year-old girl from Acton, Massachusetts, tragically lost her life when she was shot by her stepfather, Juliano Santana, 49, who had kidnapped her, last week. Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools Superintendent Peter Light called the incident heartbreaking and extended his condolences to the student’s family, friends, and the grieving school staff. Mental health support personnel will be made available in the schools to provide necessary assistance and comfort to students and staff following the unsettling incident.
While authorities have not publicly identified the young girl, they have confirmed that Santana, who was awaiting trial for repeated sexual assault on her, shot her inside his car near her residence. Furthermore, the teenager had an active restraining order against Santana, who was wearing a GPS-tracking device at the time of the incident.
Recently revealed police reports provide chilling details of the sexual assault allegations against Santana, laying out charges including three counts of child rape and other similar charges of indecent assault and battery. The reports claim that the assaults were first reported in September 2021 by the girl’s mother and sister after the victim disclosed that she had been sexually violated five times. A diary shared between the victim and her sister contained an excerpt referencing a sexual assault dating back to August 8.
This case had taken a grim predictability when a woman who reported the sexual abuse feared that Santana might discover the police’s involvement and flee, possibly back to his native Brazil. Within a day of this report, the teenager confided to investigators the details of the sexual assaults. Santana was then arrested, and despite asserting that he might require legal counsel pertaining to a ‘medical condition’ caused by his charges, he was ultimately released on a $30,000 bail.
While the case was moved to the Superior Court, Santana’s freedom, despite the severity of his charges, was a shock to many, especially those living close to the scene of the shooting.