A fruit vendor has been arrested in connection with the tragic death of 9-year-old Laura Valentina Páez, whose body was discovered days after she went missing from her home in Chiquinquirá, Colombia.
Laura disappeared on the evening of January 16, 2025, after taking her dog for a walk. Her mother, a street vendor, returned home in the early hours of January 17 to find her daughter gone.
In the days following, authorities launched an investigation into the young girl’s disappearance, which ultimately led to the arrest of Daniel Josué Zambrano Cáceres, a local fruit vendor.
Security footage revealed Cáceres approaching Laura on the night she vanished. He allegedly kidnapped the girl and drove her to a remote area outside the municipality.
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After a thorough investigation, police arrested Cáceres and discovered Laura’s remains on January 21, 2025.
Her body was found near the Minero River, approximately 45 miles from Chiquinquirá. Authorities confirmed the girl’s identity through forensic analysis.
Cáceres has been charged with forced disappearance, and further charges are expected to follow.
Police also retrieved evidence from his car, including bodily fluids, which will undergo forensic testing to strengthen the case.
Although Cáceres allegedly confessed during his interrogation, he later denied the charges in court, insisting his innocence.
The shocking case has rocked the community, with many residents now grieving the loss of a young life that was taken too soon.
Laura’s family and local authorities are determined to seek justice for her, as further investigations continue.
