The Discovery in the Bedroom: Unanswered Questions That Still Haunt Mexico

Nine days after Paulette’s disappearance, investigators made a shocking discovery — the little girl’s body was found inside her own bedroom, hidden in the narrow space between her mattress and the footboard of her bed. Wrapped in blankets, she had been there all along, in the same room where her mother had given interviews and where search teams had already combed through countless times.

The revelation stunned the nation. How could a body remain undetected for nine days in a small, heavily searched room? How could trained officers, dogs, and even family members have missed her? These questions would dominate headlines for months.

The autopsy later concluded that Paulette’s death was the result of accidental mechanical asphyxia — meaning she suffocated after becoming trapped in a confined space. The report found no evidence of violence, drugs, or manipulation of the body. Authorities theorized she had turned in her sleep and accidentally slipped into the gap at the foot of the bed, unable to free herself.

Despite the official ruling, doubts and outrage persisted. Many found it difficult to believe that such an accident could occur unnoticed for so long, especially given the intense media and police presence in the home. Both nannies maintained that they had searched the bed and room thoroughly. Critics across the country began questioning whether the investigation was being mishandled — or if key details were being concealed.

The case soon led to the resignation of State Attorney General Alberto Bazbaz, who admitted investigators had concentrated too much on external searches rather than inside the apartment. Years later, in 2017, Paulette’s remains were exhumed and cremated, closing the physical chapter of the case but not the emotional one.

The tragedy was later dramatized in a 2020 Netflix series, Crime Diaries: The Search, reigniting debate over what truly happened in that apartment. Officially, Paulette’s death remains classified as an accident. Yet for many, unanswered questions and contradictions ensure that the mystery endures — a chilling reminder of how one night’s confusion became one of Mexico’s most enduring enigmas.