The mother-in-law of Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One, was rescued unharmed by police in Brazil early Sunday and is now back with her family. The rescue ends after a week-long manhunt for the captors of Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira, the mother of Ecclestone’s Brazilian wife.
She was captured on July 22 by individuals posing as delivery men in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. They then sent an email to Palmeira’s family demanding millions of dollars for her return – with the hopes that billionaire Bernie Ecclestone would feel pressured to pay the tab.
A Brazilian anti-kidnapping unit was able to safely locate Palmeira and arrest her two captors. She gave a statement on Sunday before returning to her family.
She is the mother of Fabiana Flosi, Ecclestone’s 38-year-old wife – Ecclestone being 47 years her senior.
Kidnappings used to be much more common in Brazil in the 90’s and early 2000’s before the Brazilian government created a special anti-kidnapping unit to curb the trend.
This incident comes merely days before the Rio Olympics is to begin.