The Grandmother of a Child who Died in Pedasí Has Been Ordered to Provisional Detention.
The maternal grandmother of the 10-year-old boy was placed in pretrial detention after being charged with aggravated child abuse. The Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the 10-year-old boy.
A judge ordered the provisional detention of the maternal grandmother of a 10-year-old boy who died in Pedasí, Los Santos province, during a hearing of multiple requests held this Sunday in the Accusatory Penal System (SPA) of Las Tablas. The hearing began at 1:00 pm and lasted for more than two hours. The judge upheld the woman’s arrest and accepted the charges of aggravated child abuse. The prosecution requested pretrial detention, and the defense did not appeal the decision. The senior prosecutor of Los Santos, Liberia Cedeño, explained that the proceedings also addressed a request related to the seizure of data and its subsequent judicial oversight. She indicated that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is not ruling out further actions in the case.
On Friday, the Director General of the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families (Senniaf), Lilibet Cárdenas, traveled to Pedasí with her team to follow up on the case. Cárdenas went to the Peace House and the Ombudsman’s Office to check if there were any prior reports or alerts related to the child’s situation. He also visited the school where the child studied. According to information gathered by Senniaf, no signs or warnings indicating a possible situation of abuse had been identified in the school environment. “We must move forward with the investigations and await the results,” Cárdenas stated. The official indicated that the institution will continue with the corresponding inquiries within its jurisdiction.
Cárdenas also visited the boy’s three siblings, who remain under the care of an alternative family, to learn about their situation and ensure they receive the appropriate support and protection. For her part, lawyer Suky Yard, who represents the child’s paternal grandmother, confirmed the charges and questioned the previous actions of the institutions that, she said, were aware of the child’s situation. Yard maintained that other measures could have been taken to protect the children before the death. He also indicated that he will request that the paternal grandmother be considered as an alternative support person for them. Senniaf reported on September 12 that it activated its emergency protocols after learning of the child’s death. The Public Prosecutor’s Office continues its investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death and determine the corresponding responsibilities.
Lawyer Suky Yard: The abuse began in 2022 and was repeated, as the judge clearly stated. This is what Senniaf considered when they offered a family placement that was the WORST option for the children! This is the first of many hearings, and there is another person who is also CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE! Finally, and as is due process: THE CASE FILE IS SEALED to protect these children!
