Marcela Borges’ Harrowing Kidnapping Story Adapted for Netflix Movie

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Marcela Borges‘ life dramatically changed in November 2009 when she and her family were taken hostage in their home. Armed intruders invaded their residence while Borges was two months pregnant and her son, Ryan, was just 5 years old.

The terror began when four masked gunmen broke into Borges’ home, binding her, her husband Rubens Morais, and their young son. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of $200,000, but upon learning the family did not have that much money, they tortured them for three days.

Borges and Morais were forced to withdraw $24,000 from their bank account, but the kidnappers still refused to release them. Throughout their captivity, Borges described hearing her husband cry and the chilling sound of a gun being cocked as the intruders threatened their lives.

In a heroic moment on the third day, Borges confronted one of the kidnappers in a struggle for her life. She managed to pull off the kidnapper’s mask, risking everything to escape through a second-story window. Though she was shot in the process, she reached a neighbor and called for help.

Law enforcement arrived soon after and rescued the Borges family, who were all injured but eventually recovered. Investigators identified one kidnapper as Bianca Dos Santos, believed to be the ringleader, although she remains at large. Other captors — Oscar Diaz Hernandez, Victor Manuel Sanchez, and Miguel Diaz Santiz — were arrested and prosecuted. Sanchez was sentenced to life in prison.

Borges later expressed the emotional toll of the ordeal on her family through a victim impact statement, highlighting the lasting trauma experienced by her son, Ryan.

More than 15 years later, Borges’ story has been adapted into the Netflix film Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story, which premiered in September 2025. The film stars acclaimed actors portraying Borges and her family, shedding light on their dark past.

Since the kidnapping, Borges has continued her life, welcoming a second son, Lucas, and pursuing education. The family now leads a more private life while still grappling with their traumatic experience.