January 20, 1996, Varginha, Brazil (pop. ~100,000): NORAD transmitted radar data on a flying object south of Minas Gerais to Brazil’s CINDACTA surveillance center. THE CRASH: ~3:30pm, multiple residents saw a cigar-shaped object traveling at high speed suddenly falter and change direction toward the ground. THE THREE WITNESSES: Liliane Silva, Valquíria Silva, and Kátia Andrade Xavier (ages 14, 14, 22) encountered a strange creature crouched against a wall in a courtyard. Consistent description across all three: thin, brown/grey skin “covered in oil” with veins visible from neck to arms, large red eyes, three “horns” on head, V-shaped feet, approximately 160cm tall. The creature appeared distressed and suffering. MILITARY RESPONSE: Large military contingent surrounded the town and roped off entire blocks. Nobody allowed to enter or leave. Military trucks from nearby ESA Army Base deployed. CORPORAL MARCO ELI CHEREZE (age 23): Allegedly captured one of the creatures with his bare hands and transported it to Varginha Regional Hospital. Post-contact: his body became “greasy and sticky” and retained an unusual odor. He developed a highly virulent, multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. Hospitalized February 12, 1996. Died February 15, 1996 from sepsis — within weeks of the contact. Pathologist Dr. Shuam Jamini later analyzed tissue samples without knowing about the encounter and concluded the bacterium’s aggressiveness “suggested extraterrestrial origin.” Chereze’s family was pressured to bury him immediately. Legal effort underway to exhume the body. HOSPITAL: An entire wing was closed, filled with armed military. One creature reportedly brought in, another doctor described a being communicating via telepathy. One creature was pronounced dead January 22, 1996. Autopsy reportedly conducted by 12+ specialists including geneticists — black tongue, no genitals, navel present. JAMES FOX (“Moment of Contact,” 2022): Spent 12 years investigating. Claims USAF aircraft arrived at Campinas airport and removed the craft. Offering $200,000 reward for an alleged 35-second video of the captured creature. Retired Brazilian Air Force General Jose Carlos Pereira: “Governments tend to cover up everything they can’t explain to their population.” January 2026 National Press Club news conference: new witnesses testified. Rep. Eric Burlison in attendance. Varginha now has a 4-meter alien statue (September 2025) and significant UFO tourism.