Where is Marcela Borges now? The real story and life after the 2009 home invasion
Marcela Borges now lives in Winter Garden, Florida, where she quietly rebuilt her life after surviving a violent 2009 home invasion. She is pursuing a nursing career, raising two sons with her husband, Rubens Morais, and inspired a 2025 Lifetime film based on her story.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Marcela Borges resides in Florida with her husband, Rubens Morais and their two sons.
- She rebuilt her life after surviving a 2009 home invasion and pursued nursing studies at Valencia College and the University of Central Florida.
- Authorities convicted three suspects and continue to search for a fourth.
- Her story inspired the 2025 Lifetime film Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story.
Marcela Borges' profile summary
Full name | Marcela Borges |
Gender | Female |
Born | 1982 |
Age | 43 years old (as of 2025) |
Place of birth | Goiânia, Brazil |
Current residence | Winter Garden, Florida, USA |
Nationality | Brazilian |
Ethnicity | Latina |
Sexual orientation | Straight |
Marital status | Married |
Husband | Rubens Morais |
Children | Two |
Educational background | Valencia College-Nursing School, University of Central Florida |
Where is Marcela Borges now?
Marcela Borges now lives in Winter Garden, Florida, where she continues to rebuild her life more than 15 years after surviving a brutal home invasion. She resides with her husband, Rubens Morais, and their two sons, Ryan and Lucas, in the same gated community where the 2009 attack occurred.
Source: UGC
Marcela pursued higher education following the ordeal, enrolling at Valencia College's Nursing School and later at the University of Central Florida. Her husband, Rubens, remains active in business, running RLM Trucks Carrier, and the couple has maintained a low public profile while focusing on family and healing.
Despite the trauma, Marcela has not relocated or sought anonymity elsewhere. Instead, she chose to stay rooted in the community where she nearly lost her life.
What happened to the Borges family in Florida?
According to The Palm Beach Post, Marcela Borges and her family endured a harrowing home invasion in Winter Garden, Florida, on 15 November 2009. Four masked gunmen forced their way into the gated residence and held Marcela, her husband Rubens Morais, and their five-year-old son Ryan hostage for three days.
Source: UGC
The attackers demanded $200,000, blindfolded and bound the family, and subjected them to repeated threats and physical abuse.
According to Fox News, the ordeal began around 9 a.m. when Rubens and Ryan answered the door, and armed intruders confronted them. One fired a shot at the door, while another pointed a gun at Ryan. The assailants located the family's safe and took $30,000, but continued their assault when they weren't satisfied with the amount.
They then forced the family into a vehicle and drove them to a house in Apopka, Florida, where they kept them overnight. Marcela, who was two months pregnant, was coerced into withdrawing nearly $24,000 from various accounts under duress.
The next day, the kidnappers took the family back to their home in Winter Garden, prolonging the ordeal for two more days. On the third day, Marcela seized a moment of chaos, tore off one of the kidnapper's masks, leapt from a second-storey window, and ran. She got shot twice during her escape but managed to get help.
The Marcela Borges kidnap trial and sentencing
Source: UGC
Authorities arrested three suspects: Miguel Diaz-Santiz (25), Victor Manuel Sanchez (20), and Oscar Diaz (19) shortly after Marcela Borges escaped her captors in November 2009. Prosecutors charged them with armed home invasion, kidnapping, and aggravated assault.
Marcela and Rubens testified in court, describing how the attackers demanded $200,000, forced Marcela to withdraw nearly $24,000, and threatened to kill their son. The prosecution presented evidence of physical torture, financial coercion, and Marcela's dramatic escape.
The court convicted and sentenced all three men. While sentencing details remain limited, reports confirm that each received lengthy prison terms. A fourth suspect, Bianca Dos Santos, allegedly obtained insider information from Marcela's mother and remains at large.
Terror Comes Knocking: Marcela Borges' real story retold
Lifetime's Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story dramatises the chilling 2009 home invasion that nearly claimed Marcela Borges's life. The film premiered in January 2025 and is among the best movies to stream now. It is available on Netflix and Hulu, or (rent or buy) on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home.
Meet the Marcela Borges cast
The main cast for the 2025 movie Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story includes:
- Dascha Polanco as Marcela Borges
- Johnathan Sousa as Rubens Morais
- Alessio Andrada as Ryan Morais
- Nisa Gunduz as Bianca Dos Santos
- Ivan Lopez as Oscar Hernandez
- Marito Lopez as Miguel Santiz
- Mitchell Jaramillo as Victor Sanchez
- Marisa McIntyre as Teresa
FAQs
- Where is Marcela Borges now in real life? Marcela currently lives in Winter Garden, Florida, with her husband, Rubens Morais and their two sons, Ryan and Lucas.
- Is Marcela Borges still alive? She is alive and continues to reside in Florida with her family.
- Where can I find Marcela Borges' real pictures? You can get Marcela's photos on her Facebook profile.
- Is there any verified information about Marcela Borges' real family? Verified data about the Borges' family comes primarily from news reports published during the 2009 kidnapping and from later updates.
- Is Terror Comes Knocking a true story? Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story mimics the real-life 2009 home invasion and kidnapping that Marcela and her family survived.
- What is the Lifetime movie about Marcela Borges' story? The Lifetime movie is Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story.
- Where can I watch When Terror Comes Knocking? You can watch the movie on Netflix and Hulu. The film is also available to rent or buy on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home.
Marcela Borges now lives in Winter Garden, Florida. After surviving a violent 2009 home invasion, she pursued nursing studies at Valencia College and the University of Central Florida. Her story inspired a 2025 Lifetime film, spotlighting her courage and escape. Three attackers were convicted, though one suspect remains at large.
Yen.com.gh published a similar article exploring what happened to Carl Azuz. He is an iconic former host of CNN 10, known for his witty puns and engaging delivery. Azuz built a loyal following among students and educators.
His sudden departure from CNN 10 sparked widespread speculation, especially amid rumours of health concerns and career changes. Find out what makes his story so enduring in this article.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
