New evidence in the investigation into the disappearance of María Ercira Contreras has once again brought the case into the spotlight, following the discovery of biological remains near the restaurant where the woman was last seen two years ago.
Second Sergeant Miguel Ángel Herrera of the Carabineros (Chilean National Police) provided a statement to the Limache Bricrim (Criminal Investigation Brigade) regarding the initial search efforts conducted in May 2024. The officer appeared before the police unit on January 2 to testify about his involvement in the search operations.
Herrera was among the first responders to arrive at the scene after an emergency call was placed on May 12, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m. During his testimony, the officer recounted a specific incident that occurred during the search.
According to the officer, a son and grandson of the victim informed him that a family member had contacted a psychic. This individual had claimed that Contreras could be found in the Parque Brasil area of the Limache commune.
Upon receiving this information, Sergeant Herrera, along with Corporal Cristopher Villavicencio and the two family members, traveled to the area to conduct a search operation.
Observations on family behavior
Sergeant Herrera noted behavior during the search operation that he found striking. “I must state that the passive and calm attitude of the missing person's family during the search caught my attention,” the officer stated, according to reports from BioBioChile.
The officer specified that, during the procedure, he only observed a state of emotional shock in the victim's son, who was the person responsible for contacting the police. This testimony comes at a time of uncertainty following the discovery of biological remains in the vicinity of the establishment where the disappearance occurred.
Meanwhile, the Limache Local Prosecutor's Office confirmed this Friday that the investigation remains active and ongoing. The agency detailed that multiple investigative procedures and operations have been carried out over the past two years.
However, the Prosecutor's Office noted that there are currently no conclusive findings regarding the disappearance. The investigation remains open as new biological evidence found near the scene is being processed.
