Odília Pereirinha, the mother of convicted killer Renato Seabra, arrived at a New York prison two years ago to visit her son only to be told he was no longer there. The family described the moment on the SIC television programme Portugal Criminal, broadcast on Sunday, 23 August 2026.
Seabra had been held at Clinton Correctional Facility since January 2013, when he began serving his sentence for the killing of Portuguese celebrity photographer Carlos Castro. Pereirinha had made the trip, one of many she has taken to the United States to see her son, expecting to find him there as before.
The explanation came afterwards. Seabra, who confessed to the killing, had in fact been moved to Attica Correctional Facility, roughly 535 kilometres from Clinton, in a transfer the family said took place in mid-2024, shortly before Pereirinha's visit.
Parole hearing set for 2035
Seabra is now 36 and is awaiting his first parole hearing, scheduled for September 2035. If parole is granted, his release could take effect from 3 January 2036.
Besides his mother, Seabra's sister, Joana, continues to visit him regularly at the penitentiary, travelling to see him at least twice a year, the family said.
Family cites health concerns
Speaking on the SIC programme, the family said they were still working to bring Seabra back to Portugal and voiced concern over his health, saying he has a severe clinical condition that requires ongoing monitoring and medication. One of his friends has previously said Seabra attempted to take his own life in prison.
The 2011 killing of Carlos Castro
Seabra was sentenced to between 25 years and life in prison for the killing of Castro, a well-known Portuguese celebrity photographer and society columnist, in a New York hotel in 2011. The case generated extensive coverage in Portugal at the time.
Correio da Manhã reported in the aftermath that Pereirinha was selling off family assets, including her house and property inherited from relatives, to help fund her son's legal defence.
