In recent days, Rosalina Vieira has been searching for her son in the streets of Braga. The 46-year-old went missing from the hospital mid-week.
Rosalina recounted that the situation began early Wednesday morning when her son became violent, insulting and threatening her. This prompted her to call the authorities, who then took him to the Braga hospital due to a history of mental health issues.
Given her son’s “anger” towards her, she did not accompany him, but Paulo was escorted by the authorities to the facility.
The former GNR military member had been released from psychiatric care three weeks prior, following a month-and-a-half-long voluntary stay after a recommendation from his family doctor. However, when Rosalina visited the hospital two days later, her son was no longer there.
“The police saw him, the nurse saw him, they said he was there, but he ran away,” she explained. She also approached the GNR and the Public Security Police, who have been searching but have not located him.
“He’s afraid of being arrested. He sees the cars and runs,” Rosalina said.
Rosalina has been looking for her son in various locations, and some people claim to have seen him. In one instance, he reportedly asked for food at an establishment, but left before it was served.
“He has ten euros with him. He has no money, not even for food,” she detailed, adding, “I’ve searched the entire city. I went up to the University of Minho, walked by the river, always looking for him.”
She fears that her son is avoiding police cars due to the incident that prompted her to call the authorities, so she hopes officers will search using “unmarked cars.”
Paulo has been “depressive” for several years, according to his mother. His struggles reportedly began when he was “let go” from his post in Porto because he “walked bent” and could not perform his duties as a GNR agent. Although consulted by specialists in the North and Lisbon, his career ended, which left him “resentful.”
His motivation dwindled, and after the recent deaths of two close family members, his condition worsened, leaving him “more violent and depressive.”
During this time, he expressed concern about his mental health, suggesting he might have Alzheimer’s, a notion his mother dismissed but saw as evidence of his deteriorating condition. This realization led to his recent hospitalization.
Efforts are ongoing to contact Braga Hospital and the PSP of Braga. Meanwhile, the Braga Territorial Command of the GNR confirms that family members reported Paulo missing, but as it falls under PSP’s jurisdiction, their security force continues the search.
There have been reports received by the GNR indicating sightings of the ex-GNR member in “various areas.”
