Police in Colombia have arrested a fruit vendor in connection with the tragic murder of a 9-year-old girl. Laura Valentina Páez disappeared while walking her dog on the evening of January 16 in Chiquinquirá, a town located about 80 miles north of Bogota.
Laura’s mother was alarmed to find her daughter missing when she returned home around 3 a.m. the next morning. Authorities began their search and soon identified a suspect, Daniel Josué Zambrano Cáceres. Security footage reportedly shows Cáceres approaching Laura on the night she vanished. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance.
According to reports, Cáceres is accused of luring the girl into his car and then taking her to a remote area outside the town. After the arrest, Laura’s body was discovered by a group of soldiers near the Minero River, approximately 45 miles from Chiquinquirá, on January 21. The mayor and the medical examiner later confirmed her identity.
Investigators found evidence in Cáceres’ vehicle that is being tested for forensic analysis. He faces charges of forced disappearance, and more charges could follow. During questioning, he allegedly confessed but later recanted his statement in front of a judge.
The investigation remains ongoing as the community mourns the loss of young Laura Valentina Páez.
