The bodies of three young women from Ecuador have been found on a beach near Quininde in the country’s north.
Nayeli Tapia, 22, Yuliana Macias, 21, and Denisse Reyna, 19, went missing on a beach trip and were found dead on Friday 7th April 2023, reportedly tortured and with signs of violence.
Fisherman Discovers Bodies
A fisherman noticed a dog sniffing around their shallow graves and alerted the police, who uncovered the bodies. The women were reported missing by their families on Tuesday 4th April 2023, after not returning from their beach trip.
Investigations Underway
The case has been activated by the Prosecutor’s Office with a special protocol to Investigate Femicides and other Violent Deaths of Women and Girls.
Police have identified the rental car used to transport the bodies to the crime scene, along with a mobile phone possibly linked to the case.
The women lived 84 kilometres from where they were found murdered.
Province Under State of Emergency
The province where the women’s bodies were found has been under a state of emergency since March due to increasing levels of crime and violence. This case adds to the number of femicides in Ecuador, which is around 138 so far in 2023.
Days before fishermen found their remains, the families of the young women had reported them missing.
According to local media, relatives said that the three had plans to travel to the beach to meet some friends at a vacation complex. They went out together on April 4th and that was the last time they were seen.
