Prime Video’s docuseries Abandoned: The Woman in the Decaying House offers an in-depth look at one of the most shocking cases of domestic abuse and modern slavery involving Brazilian nationals in the United States. Spiky TV presents this story, which highlights the harrowing experiences of Hilda Rosa dos Santos, a woman who endured nearly two decades of alleged abuse by Margarida Maria Vicente de Azevedo Bonetti and her family. This series uncovers the shocking details of how Hilda’s life intersected with an international fugitive and a federal US case from the late 1990s.
Hilda dos Santos’ story is not only about survival—it also shines a light on systemic abuse, lack of opportunities, and the challenges faced by domestic workers, particularly immigrants, across the globe.
Hilda dos Santos’ Early Life in Brazil
Hilda Rosa dos Santos was born in the early 1940s in Anápolis, Brazil, about 600 miles from São Paulo. She was one of twelve children in a family that struggled with extreme poverty. Her father was largely absent, and her mother, unable to support all her children, “scattered” them to various relatives or households for care.
Due to these circumstances, Hilda had very limited access to education. She was eventually sent to work for a family that reportedly ran a brothel. From a very young age, she was forced to perform hard domestic labour and care for livestock. During this period, Hilda experienced regular physical abuse and learnt to remain silent about the mistreatment she endured. She described herself as becoming passive and waiting for opportunities to improve her life.
By the early 1960s, Hilda began working for the de Azevedo family, who lived in the affluent neighbourhood of Higienópolis, São Paulo. She was probably around 19 years old at the time. Hilda didn’t know her exact age, but she recalled that the de Azevedos had three daughters when she started working with them. One of those daughters, Margarida, was nine years old. Over the next two decades, Hilda became a trusted figure in the household, raising the children, managing domestic tasks, and dedicating herself entirely to the family’s needs.
Hilda’s Move to the United States
In 1979, Margarida Bonetti, her husband Renê Bonetti, and their young son Arthur moved to Montgomery Village, Maryland, for Renê’s work as an engineer. The de Azevedo family “gifted” Hilda to the Bonettis, who brought her along to continue performing domestic duties. Hilda believed this move would simply be a continuation of her existing work, but the reality was far more severe than she could have anticipated.
Hilda had a very hard job in the Bonetti home. She cooked, cleaned, shovelled snow, raked leaves, walked dogs, washed cars, and helped Arthur grow up. Even though she did all of this, she is said to have not been paid for her work. The Bonettis are said to have told her that they were putting her money in a bank account, but they never gave her any. The de Azevedos only kept their promise of a salary for four years.
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Alleged Abuse and Harsh Living Conditions
People said that Hilda’s living conditions in Maryland were terrible. She had to live in a cold basement with no real bathroom or shower. She didn’t have a bathroom; instead, there was a big hole in the floor covered with plywood and a metal tub with no tap for bathing. She even had to go get water to bathe.
She didn’t have much space to sleep. She made a thin mattress out of things she found, and the family kept the refrigerator locked, so she couldn’t get to food. Hilda said that Margarida and Renê Bonetti abused her badly, in addition to the physical pain. She reported being slapped, punched, having her hair pulled, or beaten with objects. Margarida allegedly also threw burning food at her on some occasions.
Medical neglect was another serious issue. Hilda claimed she was rarely taken to a doctor. One injury involved a glass cut on her leg that became infected, and she also lived with a tumour for years without treatment. When finally examined, the tumour was 12 cm in size but fortunately not cancerous.
Escape and Legal Action
After 19 years of alleged abuse, Hilda managed to escape in early 1998 with the help of a neighbour she had befriended. The neighbour immediately took her to a hospital, where Hilda received treatment for long-ignored injuries. The FBI and Montgomery County adult services were contacted, launching an investigation into her case.
In spring 1999, Margarida and Renê Bonetti faced charges in the United States. They were accused of three counts of immigration felony related to harbouring an undocumented person and one count of causing “serious bodily injury.” By this time, Margarida had fled to Brazil. Only Renê faced trial in February 2000. Court records revealed that the Bonettis had taken Hilda’s passport and visa shortly after arriving in the US, effectively preventing her from leaving.
Hilda bravely testified against her alleged abusers. Renê Bonetti was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and was ordered to pay $110,000 in restitution to Hilda. Margarida’s attempts to dissolve US-based assets from Brazil did not prevent the outcome.
Where is Hilda dos Santos now?
Today, Hilda Rosa dos Santos is still in the United States, where she is rebuilding her life following her escape. She does not intend to go back to Brazil, viewing the U.S. as her home. Although she does not speak English, does not read or write in Portuguese, and faces several other challenges, Hilda has been shown kindness which has assisted her life following escape. While it is difficult to share precise details about Hilda’s case in order to keep her private information safe, it is evident that her struggles post-escape are being addressed to some degree.
She has learnt about the horrors of contemporary slavery and the offer of support that survivors often extend to one another in Abandoned: The Woman in the Decaying House. The series is directed by Katia Lund and is based on Chico Felitti’s podcast. Abandoned emphasizes systemic failures, for instance, how the justice system neglects to uphold its responsibilities, enabling Margarita to escape legal consequences. Hilda’s case also brought to the forefront the conversation about the rampant abuse of domestic workers and the insufficient legal safeguards that are in place.
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