Woman who ‘raised secret child in BOOT OF CAR’ faces 20 years in jail

Rosa Maria Da Cruz has gone on trial for repeated acts of violence against a minor causing severe development problems, according to a court official at the Palais de Justice in the French city Tulle. Ms Cruz was reportedly in denial about having a fourth child and hid her pregnancy from her husband and three other children, raising the girl, called Serena, in a basement and car boot. The little girl was discovered in 2013 when garage mechanics investigated noises coming from the boot.

Denis Latour, a mechanic at Terrasson garage, told broadcaster France Info: “I discovered this little girl in the bottom of the trunk, naked, next to a rotten cradle, disgusting. I jumped back so much the smell was strong.”

In the report, the mechanics confirmed that a smell “evocative of putrefaction” was wafting out of the passenger compartment.

Alongside the child were two small plastic toys, a pacifier and a bottle filled with fermented milk, the report said. 

Mr Latour added when firefighters left with the toddler, the mother was in the police car, and he went to talk with her through the window to tell her “know that tonight, we may have saved your daughter’s life” to which she replied “Thank you, sir”.

Another mechanic, Guillaume Iguacel, commented on Ms Cruz’s composure on the day her secret was ousted. 

He said: ”She was smoking her cigarette, she looked relaxed, not frantic, nothing, calm, calm.”

Ms Cruz now faces up to 20 years in prison. 

Serena, who was also deprived of food and care, is now seven years old and lives is in special care with what could be irreversible health problems.