The Mastermind Still At Large: 5 Shocking Details About The Manhunt For Bianca Dos Santos

Bianca dos Santos is a name that has resurfaced in global headlines, not for a new crime, but as the central, elusive figure in one of Florida's most notorious and brutal home invasions. As of today, December 11, 2025, Dos Santos remains a high-priority fugitive, wanted by law enforcement for her alleged role as the mastermind behind a harrowing 2009 attack on a family in Winter Garden, Florida.

The case has garnered renewed, intense public interest following its adaptation into a popular true-crime documentary/series, which has brought the decade-old manhunt back into the spotlight. The chilling details of the crime and the frustrating fact that its alleged ringleader has successfully evaded capture for so long fuel the curiosity and determination of investigators and the public alike.

Fugitive Profile: The Elusive Bianca dos Santos

Bianca dos Santos is the only suspect in the 2009 Winter Garden home invasion who has successfully evaded capture, making her a long-term fugitive. Details about her personal life are scarce, as is common when a suspect flees the country, but the following profile has been pieced together from police reports and victim testimony:

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• Full Name: Bianca dos Santos
• Alleged Role: Mastermind and active participant in the home invasion and kidnapping.
• Primary Charges: Attempted Homicide, Kidnapping, and Home-Invasion Robbery.
• Crime Date: November 15, 2009.
• Location of Crime: Winter Garden, Orange County, Florida, USA.
• Current Status: At large (Fugitive), believed to have fled the United States, possibly to her native country or a country with no extradition treaty.
• Distinguishing Feature: She was identified by the victim, Marcela Borges, after Borges managed to pull down her mask during the ordeal.

The lack of detailed, current physical descriptors in public records underscores the difficulty law enforcement faces in tracking a suspect who has been on the run for over a decade. Her last known whereabouts were in the United States shortly after the crime.

The Shocking True Story: The Borges-Morais Home Invasion

The crime for which Bianca dos Santos is wanted is a case of calculated terror that shocked the quiet community of Winter Garden, Florida. The victims, Marcela Borges and her husband, Rubens Laureano Morais, along with their young son, were targeted in a horrific multi-day ordeal.

The Calculated Plan: Why the Borges-Morais Family Was Targeted

Investigators determined that the attack was not random. Bianca dos Santos allegedly orchestrated the entire plot after gaining specific, crucial information about the family’s wealth. The Borges-Morais family, originally from Brazil, owned a successful trucking company, and Dos Santos reportedly learned about their financial success through her mother's business connections. This insider knowledge allowed her to plan a sophisticated, high-stakes robbery.

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The plan involved four individuals: Bianca dos Santos, and three male accomplices: Miguel Diaz-Santiz, Victor Manuel Sanchez, and Oscar Diaz Hernandez. Their intention was to hold the family hostage, torture them for their bank account information, and force them to withdraw large sums of cash.

The Brutality of the Three-Day Ordeal

On November 15, 2009, the four suspects invaded the family’s home. What followed was a terrifying three-day period of physical and psychological torment. Marcela Borges, who was pregnant at the time, was forced at gunpoint to drive to a bank and withdraw $24,000.

The most shocking moment came when Borges attempted a daring escape. As she broke free, one of the kidnappers shot her. The bullet passed through her body, shattering her left wrist, but she miraculously survived and managed to alert authorities. Her escape was the catalyst that brought the ordeal to an end and led to the quick capture of three of the four suspects.

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The Fate of the Co-Conspirators and Dos Santos’ Escape

While Marcela Borges’ bravery led to the arrest of three of the attackers, Bianca dos Santos, the alleged ringleader, vanished. The difference in the fates of the four suspects highlights the critical nature of Dos Santos’ continued fugitive status.

Justice for the Accomplices

Shortly after the crime, police arrested Miguel Diaz-Santiz, Victor Manuel Sanchez, and Oscar Diaz Hernandez. All three were charged with attempted homicide, kidnapping, and home-invasion robbery. The trials saw the co-conspirators convicted and sentenced to life in prison, ensuring that justice was served for the actual perpetrators who carried out the physical attack. The confessions of at least two of the suspects provided key evidence, confirming Dos Santos' role as the mastermind.

The Fugitive Trail: Fleeing the Country

Bianca dos Santos, however, was not among those captured. Investigators believe she fled the country almost immediately after the botched home invasion. Her ability to disappear is a major reason the case remains open and continues to frustrate law enforcement agencies, including the Orange County Sheriff's Office. There have been no confirmed sightings or arrests in the years since the 2009 incident.

Why the Manhunt for Bianca dos Santos is a Current Topic

Despite the crime occurring over 15 years ago, the case of Bianca dos Santos is far from cold. The search for her is one of the most high-profile active fugitive hunts stemming from a Florida crime in the last two decades. The key factors keeping her in the news are:

• The True-Crime Adaptation: The story was recently adapted into a popular true-crime series, "Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story" (or similar titles). This adaptation has introduced the case to a new generation of viewers, creating a massive surge in public awareness and renewed calls for justice.
• The Mastermind Status: As the alleged mastermind, her capture is essential for the case to be considered truly closed. The fact that the person who conceived the plan is free is a major point of contention for the victims and the public.
• Attempted Murder Charges: Dos Santos is wanted on attempted murder charges, a serious felony that ensures the warrant for her arrest remains active and international in scope, not subject to typical statute of limitations.

The continued media attention serves as an ongoing public appeal. Law enforcement relies on the public to provide leads, especially for a fugitive believed to be living abroad under an assumed identity. The story of Bianca dos Santos is a stark reminder that some of the most dangerous criminals can remain hidden in plain sight for years, but the pursuit for justice never truly ends.