11-year-old girl missing for more than 20 days in Honduras is found alive

Authorities are seeking to determine where Genesis Ramirez was, who she had contact with, and if there were any crimes related to her disappearance. The National Police confirmed the location of Genesis R., a minor who had been missing since July 22 in San Pedro Sula, Cortés. The minor was located as a result of the procedures carried out by agents of the Police Investigations Directorate (DPI), in coordination with Interpol, the institution reported. After being found, Genesis will undergo an evaluation by Forensic Medicine and then will be under the protection of the Secretariat of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (Senaf), while investigations continue to establish what happened during the days she was away from her home. Genesis's disappearance caused concern among her family, neighbors, and residents of the Nuevos Horizontes neighborhood, in the Perfecto Vázquez sector, also known as Satélite, in San Pedro Sula. The girl was last seen during the early hours of Wednesday, July 22. According to the initial account provided by her family, around 5:30 in the morning she went out to the yard of the house to bathe before preparing to attend classes. Noticing that more time had passed than usual, her father went out to look for her and discovered that the girl was no longer there. A neighbor reportedly indicated that the minor boarded a vehicle, information that was later incorporated into the search procedures. Due to the girl’s absence, her family filed a report with the National Police, and residents of the area organized to assist in patrols and expand the search to different sectors of San Pedro Sula. According to preliminary information provided by authorities, during the procedures, the minor reportedly stated that she decided to leave her home due to alleged sexual abuse. This allegation is part of the investigation and must be clarified by the competent authorities. The DPI and Interpol located Genesis Ramirez after more than 20 days of search. The discovery of the girl alive will allow authorities to expand the investigation and compare the information obtained during the search with the testimony she can now provide under the mechanisms established for the protection of girls, boys, and adolescents. Among the elements that need to be established are the circumstances under which Genesis left her home, the places she stayed during her disappearance, and the people she had contact with. The National Police reported that this version must be investigated and verified by the competent authorities, so no criminal responsibility can be assigned to anyone until the relevant procedures are completed. As part of the protocol following her location, Genesis will be evaluated by Forensic Medicine. This assessment will help document her condition and provide technical elements to the investigation, in accordance with procedures applicable in cases involving minors. Authorities seek to determine where Genesis Ramirez was, who she had contact with, and if there were any crimes related to her disappearance. After the evaluation, the girl will be under the protection of the Secretariat of Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (Senaf), the institution responsible for monitoring her situation and determining the necessary measures to ensure her safety and well-being. Because she is an 11-year-old girl, institutions must apply the protection mechanisms established to prevent her re-victimization and ensure that any statement or evaluation is conducted under conditions appropriate for minors. Now, the investigations focus on reconstructing what happened from the moment the girl left her home until her location and establishing whether any persons were involved in the reported events.