Fugitive Brazilian Rapist Andre Tiago Lucas Arrested, Prompts Daycare Closure in Cape Cod

In a shocking revelation that has sparked widespread concern, Andre Tiago Lucas, a Brazilian national convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl in his home country, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in October 2024 in Bourne, Massachusetts. The 36-year-old fugitive had been living undetected at a licensed home daycare in Hyannis, Cape Cod, operated by Franciele Nunes, the mother of his two children. The discovery of Lucas’s presence led to the immediate closure of the daycare, raising serious questions about oversight in childcare facilities and immigration enforcement.

Andre Tiago Lucas was convicted by the Sole Court of the District of Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on December 6, 2016, for the rape of a vulnerable person. He was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison but fled Brazil before serving his sentence, eventually making his way to Massachusetts. Lucas settled in Hyannis, where he resided at a home daycare licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). The daycare, operated by Franciele Nunes, had been in operation for three years, with its license set to expire in March 2025.

The case came to light following an investigation by Boston 25 News, which uncovered Lucas’s presence at the daycare. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested Lucas on October 31, 2024, after he had evaded authorities for years. Acting ICE Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde condemned Lucas, stating he falsely believed he could “evade justice in Massachusetts.” As of May 2025, Lucas remains in custody at the Plymouth Correctional Facility, pending immigration proceedings.

The Hyannis daycare, described as a state-licensed facility, was shut down following Lucas’s arrest and the subsequent media scrutiny. The EEC, responsible for regulating childcare facilities in Massachusetts, conducted five inspections of the daycare but failed to identify Lucas’s presence during any of these visits. The agency only became aware of his connection to the facility four months after his widely publicized arrest.

Critics have pointed to significant gaps in the state’s vetting process. Immigration status is not considered during background checks for daycare operators or residents, and foreign criminal records are not routinely flagged. Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis called the situation “terrifying,” noting that a convicted rapist could “disappear into the fabric of Massachusetts” and live in a daycare without detection. State Representative Steven Xiarhos echoed these concerns, urging authorities to ensure childcare facilities are thoroughly vetted to protect vulnerable children.

The case has reignited debates over immigration policies in Massachusetts, with some officials labeling it a failure of state oversight. Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, criticized Massachusetts’s vetting processes and called the situation “a failure at the state level.” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also weighed in, with posts on X stating that “sanctuary jurisdictions are putting the lives of Americans in danger.”

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, however, pushed back against claims that the state’s immigration policies enabled Lucas’s evasion. “Massachusetts, we are not a sanctuary state,” Healey declared, rejecting attempts to tie the case to broader immigration debates. Despite her defense, the incident has fueled calls for stricter immigration enforcement and enhanced background checks for childcare providers.