Mexican authorities say two prosecution officers have been fired over “omissions and errors” within the seek for a lacking girl discovered useless final week in northern Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Two prosecution officers had been fired Wednesday over “omissions and errors” within the seek for a lacking girl discovered useless final week in northern Mexico, authorities stated.
Gustavo Guerrero, lawyer common of the northern state of Nuevo Leon, didn’t describe what errors the 2 officers might have dedicated.
However the motel the place the younger girl’s physique was present in an underground water holding tank had beforehand been searched a number of instances earlier than her physique was lastly discovered, solely after a motel workers reported a foul odor coming from the cistern.
The case of Debanhi Escobar, 18, shocked Mexico, after a taxi driver took a photograph of her standing alone on the facet of a freeway on the night time she disappeared.
The 2 fired officers — the state anti-kidnapping prosecutor and the missing-persons prosecutor — had been apparently concerned within the search, which included taking sniffer canine into the motel.
However virtually per week after her physique was lastly discovered, removed from being solved, the case has grow to be extra difficult.
Prosecutors confirmed video from the motel’s safety cameras suggesting Escobar had entered the motel and wandered round, ultimately strolling off digital camera within the route the place three cisterns are positioned close to a swimming pool.
Some experiences had urged the girl might have fallen into one of many cisterns and died unintentionally. However prosecutors stated her physique was present in one tank, her purse in one other, and her cellphone and keys had been present in a 3rd.
Eduardo Villagomez, the state’s head health worker, stated the girl died of a blow to the top. However he stated that she was apparently alive when she entered the cistern and that there was no water in her lungs.
Requested how that was doable, he stated: “She stood up. The water was 90 centimeters (three toes) deep.”
The case made headlines due to a haunting photograph taken by a driver who was imagined to get her residence that night time. It was not clear why she obtained out of the automotive, however her father, Mario Escobar, has stated prosecutors advised him that surveillance digital camera footage urged the motive force inappropriately touched his daughter.
“I suppose that my daughter didn’t put up with the harassment,” the daddy stated.
The driving force has been questioned, and stated she obtained of the automotive on her personal determination. Mario Escobar stated the motive force might not have killed his daughter however he holds him liable for her dying.
The driving force, who labored for a taxi app, took the photograph to indicate Debanhi obtained out of his automotive alive April 9 on the outskirts of the town of Monterrey.
No person noticed her till final Thursday, when investigators managed to drag her physique from the cistern.
Critics are disturbed by the truth that even when Mexican authorities are spurred to behave by public outcry, investigations are seldom very well timed or environment friendly.
Through the week that investigators stated 200 personnel used drones, search canine and opinions of safety digital camera footage to search for Escobar, her physique was mendacity not removed from the place she had been final seen.
Killings of ladies have elevated lately in Mexico, rising from 977 circumstances in 2020 to 1,015 in 2021. And people had been simply circumstances categorized as “feminicides” a authorized time period utilized in Mexico when ladies are killed due to their gender. Killings of ladies general are a lot increased.
Disappearances of ladies are additionally excessive, with about 1,600 reported lacking thus far this yr. Officers say 829 of them are nonetheless listed as lacking, and 16 had been discovered useless.
