After more than ten days of uncertainty, María Belén Zerda, a 38-year-old Argentine woman who had vanished in Cancún, was found alive and safe. The discovery, made on Good Friday morning, was confirmed by Mexican authorities to her family, bringing an end to their agonizing wait.
Belén was located in a jungle area wearing the same clothing described in her missing person report—a black tank top, light-colored shorts, and green-and-white Crocs. Her brother, Guillermo, revealed that she had been harassed and threatened, leading her to hide in the jungle for two weeks. Despite her ordeal, she survived, and after being identified by authorities, she was taken to a medical center for evaluation. Guillermo later spoke with her via video call, describing her as calm and in good spirits, albeit with minor scrapes from her time in the wilderness.
The news brought relief to her family, who had initially planned to travel to Mexico but decided to await her return, now confirmed for this weekend.
Details of the Disappearance
Belén had been missing since April 6, with the search intensifying on April 10 when the incident was officially reported and the Alba protocol activated. On Wednesday, the Attorney General’s Office of Quintana Roo issued statements asserting that Belén’s disappearance was not linked to a kidnapping. Instead, witnesses suggested she suffered from schizophrenia and fled into the jungle during an episode, a claim her brother firmly refutes. Guillermo insists she has no history of mental health issues, emphasizing her active, healthy lifestyle.
Sources close to Belén revealed she had been working on promotional and marketing projects at sporting events, and something during this time triggered her fear, causing her to flee.
The authorities finally confirmed her discovery this Friday, bringing closure to an intense operation and a case that had garnered widespread attention.
Source: Infobae
