The Varginha UFO incident is one of the most significant and well-known UFO sightings in Brazilian history. It occurred in January 1996 in the city of Varginha, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The incident involved alleged sightings of extraterrestrial beings by local residents, as well as the military's involvement in capturing and handling the beings.

Eyewitness testimony from locals suggests that on the afternoon of January 20, 1996, three young women were walking home when they spotted a strange creature in a field near their route. The creature was described as being about 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall, had a large head with bumps and red eyes. The creature reportedly had a slimy, brown body with small arms and legs. The women were reportedly frightened by the creature and fled the scene.

The girls, Liliane Silva, Valquiria Silva, and Katia Xavier, ranging in age from 14 to 21, claimed they had stumbled across a “strange creature” in broad daylight, at around 3.30 pm on January 20, 1996.

The being, which was huddled next to a wall by a clump of weeds in a vacant, grass-covered lot, was described as about four feet tall, with brown, oily skin, V-shaped feet, a large head, and huge red eyes.

Later that night, the Brazilian military became involved in the incident. Eyewitnesses reported seeing military vehicles and personnel in the area where the creature was sighted earlier that night. Some witnesses reported seeing the military remove a strange object from the area on the back of a truck.

The next day, the military reportedly captured two more creatures in the same area where the first creature was sighted. These creatures were described as being similar in appearance to the first creature, with slimy brown skin, large heads, and red eyes. They were reportedly captured and taken to a nearby hospital for examination.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the creatures being transported in sealed containers, and some claimed that the creatures were alive when they were taken away. The military, however, denied any involvement in the incident and denied that any extraterrestrial beings were captured.

Despite the military's denial, the incident became a sensation in Brazil and drew international attention. The case remains controversial, with some believing that the Brazilian military covered up the incident to avoid widespread panic, while others argue that the incident was a hoax or misidentification of natural phenomena.

Another eyewitness, Sônia Moura, reported seeing a similar creature in the same area. Moura claimed that the creature had a foul smell and was lying on the ground. She also said that there were soldiers in the area who appeared to be searching for something.

Around three hours after the alleged encounter, the story goes, two military police officers were driving along a road just around the corner from the vacant lot when the creature ran in front of their car.

One of the officers, Marco Chereze, captured the creature with his “bare hands” and took it to a local hospital.

Hours after coming into contact with the creature, Chereze reportedly became ill and was taken to the Emergency Room. He died soon after from what was described as an infection that wouldn't go away.

The death of Marco Chereze added a disturbing element to the already mysterious Varginha UFO incident. Many people began to speculate that the creature that had been captured by the military was not of this world and that it may have been responsible for his death.

Despite the controversy surrounding the incident and the death of Marco Chereze, the Brazilian military continued to deny any involvement in the capture of the creatures. They insisted that the incident had nothing to do with UFOs or extraterrestrial beings.

The Brazilian media also interviewed several hospital staff who claimed to have seen the captured creatures. One nurse reported that she had seen a strange creature in a hospital room. The nurse claimed that the creature had a human-like appearance and was lying on a bed. She also claimed that there were several doctors and military personnel in the room.

In the aftermath of the incident, the Brazilian military denied any involvement in the capture of the creatures and insisted that the incident had nothing to do with UFOs or extraterrestrial beings. However, the military's denial did little to quell the public's curiosity about the incident, and the Varginha UFO event quickly became a sensation in Brazil.

The incident gained significant media attention, and news outlets across the country reported on the strange sightings and the military's involvement. The Brazilian government was under intense pressure to investigate the incident, and a team of researchers was dispatched to Varginha to conduct an inquiry.

Despite the government's investigation, the truth behind the Varginha UFO incident remains a mystery. Many ufologists and conspiracy theorists continue to believe that the Brazilian military was involved in a cover-up of the incident to avoid widespread panic and fear.

Over the years, the Varginha incident has been the subject of many books, documentaries, and TV shows. It has become a landmark case in Brazilian UFOlogy and has been cited as evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Sources:

Official Secrets and Lies: The Real Varginha Incident - By Robert Collins and Richard C. Doty (Flying Disk Press)

The Varginha Incident: Case Closed - By Dr. Roger K. Leir (MUFON Symposium Proceedings)

The Brazilian UFO Crash Retrieval Incident: Varginha - By Kevin D. Randle and Russ Estes (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)

The Varginha UFO Incident: Case Study - By David C. Knight (International UFO Reporter)

"The Varginha Incident: A Case for ET?" - By A.J. Gevaerd (Revista UFO Magazine)

"The Varginha UFO Incident: A Brazilian Roswell?" - By Nick Pope (The Guardian)