Two-year-old boy diagnosed with genetic disorder dies after his father stole $150,000 raised for his son’s treatment and blew through the cash on hookers, liquor, drugs and hotels
- Two-year-old João Miguel Alves passed away October 17 at his home in Brazil following a lengthy battle with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- He was only seven-months-old when doctors diagnosed him with the neuromuscular disorder
- His father Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves abandoned the family in May after raising $248,000 and blew at least $150,000 on drugs, hookers and booze
- He was finally arrested in July after his wife noticed large amounts of money had been withdrawn
A toddler who suffered from a neuromuscular disorder died last week in Brazil after his father stole the cash raised for his treatment and spent it on wild parties.
Two-year-old João Miguel Alves passed away October 17 following a lengthy battle with Spinal Muscular Atrophy [AME].
His father, Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves, 37, was arrested July 22, a week after his wife reported him to the police.
He was found at a luxury hotel where he had been staying at for almost two months having spent $150,000 on designer clothes, watches, drugs, hookers and booze.
Doctors diagnosed João Miguel with AME as a seven-month-old baby.
Mateus and his wife, Karine Rodrigues, took to social media in 2018 to raise money for their sick son’s treatment.
Each dose of the drug Spinraza cost $90,500 and works to prevent the disease from advancing.
Two-year-old João Miguel Alves (right) passed away October 17 at his home in Brazil following a lengthy battle with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. His father, Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves (left) abandoned him, his mother and older brother in May and spent $148,000 of his son’s treatment money on hookers, liquor, parties, drugs and hotels
João Miguel Alves was just seven-months-old when doctors in Brazil diagnosed him Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves (left) pictured with his wife Karine Rodrigues (second from left), João Miguel (second from right) and his 10-year-old son
Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves was arrested July 22 after his wife went to cops and told them that her husband had made a large withdrawal from the $248,000 the family had raised for their sick son’s medical treatment
It took the family almost a year to raise $248,00, some of which was gathered thanks to a marathon held in Conselheiro Lafaiete, the family’s hometown in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
By May, Mateus already was planning on how ditch his wife of 13 years, his ill toddler and the couple’s 10-year-old son, according to Brazilian outlet Pleno.
He told his Rodrigues that he was leaving for Belo Horizante to undergo training for a security guard job and only returned twice to visit.
The money the family raised was deposited into four accounts, two of which were managed by Rodrigues and two under Mateus’ name.
João Miguel fell sick last week and died at his home. The two-year-old Brazilian boy was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
A doctor treats João Miguel at a local hospital in Brazil. The government had to step in after it found that his father stole the money that the family had raised for his medical treatment. He received the first dose of Spinraza, which cost $90,500, in August
Rodrigues became suspicious after she noticed numerous large withdrawals and bank transfers.
The concerned mother went to the police July 8 to file a report before Mateus was apprehended at a beachfront hotel in the northeastern city of Salvador.
At the time of his arrest, Mateus told the police that he was the victim of an extortion scheme.
It took João Miguel until August to receive the first dose of Spinraza after the government agreed to cover the cost of the child’s first three treatments.
João Miguel unexpectedly died at his home last week.
João Miguel (pictured) was abandoned by his father, Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves, five months before he died