A 43-year-old inmate, Luiz Fernando Fantini Manoel Matos, escaped from a hospital in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, on the night of Thursday, March 5, by utilizing an improvised rappel constructed from bed sheets tied to a bed. This daring escape occurred from the second floor, allowing him to descend the walls unnoticed and reach the outside area of the building. A video obtained by reporters shows the setup used by the inmate, highlighting the audacity of his escape effort.

Luiz was serving a semi-open prison sentence for drug trafficking, having been sentenced to five years on March 12, 2024. Additionally, he had a prior conviction from November 2025, where he received a sentence of one year and six months for theft, also under the semi-open regime. The prison and hospital authorities are currently facing scrutiny regarding security measures, as the escape raises serious questions about how a prisoner could devise and execute such a plan while hospitalized.

In response to the incident, the Hospital de Base (HB) issued a statement confirming they have taken necessary actions, including filing a police report regarding the escape. This incident not only poses a challenge for law enforcement to recapture the inmate but also highlights potential vulnerabilities in the correctional system concerning hospitalizations of inmates, underscoring a need for improved oversight and security protocols.