What began as a routine trip to the store ended in a nightmare for one family in Mexico City. Eight-year-old Perla Alison, last seen in the Santa Martha Acatitla neighborhood, vanished after asking her parents for permission to buy candy. It was a simple, everyday request—one she had made many times before. But this time, she never returned.
Her family searched frantically, and when hours passed with no sign of her, authorities were alerted. By evening, a nationwide Amber Alert was issued, and her photo and description circulated across social media. Communities, activists, and neighbors shared information, hoping to bring Perla home safely.
After days of searching, the first lead came from a neighbor near the Constitución de 1917 metro station. A foul odor from an abandoned building prompted a call to emergency services. Officers from the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) arrived and cordoned off the area. Forensic teams from the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office confirmed the unthinkable: the body of a young girl was found inside.
Authorities later confirmed the remains were Perla’s. Her small body showed signs of violence, and preliminary reports suggested possible sexual assault. Investigators classified the case as femicide, the most serious criminal charge under Mexican law.
The city was shocked. Social media lit up with grief and outrage. Candlelight vigils and demonstrations began, calling attention to the broader epidemic of violence against women and girls in Mexico, where more than ten women are murdered daily.
As investigators combed the neighborhood, reviewed surveillance footage, and gathered forensic evidence, suspicion began to focus on a startling figure: Perla’s own father. Inconsistencies in his statements and witness accounts raised serious questions. Authorities have not released full details, but multiple reports now name him as the prime suspect.
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