The Varginha Incident

In January 1996, the Brazilian city of Varginha became the site of one of the most dramatic UFO incidents in South American history. Multiple witnesses reported seeing strange creatures, military personnel allegedly captured beings, and a soldier who handled one of the creatures died under mysterious circumstances.

The Crash

On January 13, 1996 (early morning):

• NORAD allegedly tracked an unknown object over Brazil
• A UFO reportedly crashed or landed near Varginha
• Brazilian military was alerted
• Initial recovery operations may have begun

The Creature Sighting - January 20

Three young women encountered a being:

• Liliane and Valquíria Silva, and Kátia Xavier
• Walking through a neighborhood in afternoon daylight
• They saw a creature crouched by a wall
• They fled in terror

Creature Description

The witnesses described:

• Approximately 5 feet tall
• Dark brown, oily skin
• Large red eyes
• Thin body, long arms
• V-shaped feet
• An ammonia-like smell
• No visible nose or ears
• Three raised ridges on the head

Military Response

According to numerous accounts:

• Fire department initially responded
• Military quickly took over
• Multiple capture operations occurred
• Trucks transported something to local hospitals
• Heavy military presence for days

Hospital Activity

At local hospitals:

• Military cordoned off areas
• Doctors were brought in under security
• Something was examined or treated
• Medical staff were reportedly sworn to secrecy

The Soldier’s Death

Corporal Marco Eli Chereze:

• Was part of the capture operation
• Allegedly handled one of the beings
• Became ill within days
• Died three weeks later from “infection”
• His family was pressured not to speak

Additional Sightings

Other witnesses came forward:

• A couple saw a creature near a hospital
• Zoo employees reported unusual activity
• Police officers saw entities
• Over 100 witnesses eventually reported encounters

Official Denials

Brazilian authorities:

• Denied any incident occurred
• Claimed witnesses saw a homeless person
• Stated military activity was routine
• Refused to release any records

Investigation

UFO researchers documented:

• Multiple independent witness accounts
• Military activity timelines
• Hospital records discrepancies
• The soldier’s mysterious death

Cover-up Evidence

Researchers noted:

• Coordinated military response suggesting preparation
• Witness intimidation reports
• Media suppression efforts
• Unexplained death of a participant

Significance

The Varginha incident is significant for:

• Multiple creature sightings
• Alleged military capture
• Death of soldier involved
• Mass witnesses (100+)
• Government cover-up attempts
• Brazil’s “Roswell”

Legacy

Varginha has become Brazil’s most famous UFO case. The city has embraced its history with tourism, monuments, and events. The case remains controversial but the consistent witness testimony and suspicious official responses keep it in serious discussion.