This morning, agents from the Federal Police executed a search warrant at the residence of Jorge Bertón, the son of former municipal official Victoria Caillava, who is currently detained in connection with the disappearance of Loan Peña. In the town of 9 de Julio, Bertón, also known as “Jorgito,” is being investigated along with a white truck parked at the location, which is accompanied by a boat and situated next to a swimming pool.
Bertón’s name came to light after Caillava and retired navy captain Carlos Pérez were arrested following orders from Goya prosecutors Juan Carlos Castillo and Guillermo Berry. A neighbor of the couple reported that Bertón had gone to retrieve his mother’s boat, fearing it might be vandalized.
When the case was still under provincial jurisdiction, another neighbor claimed to have seen a truck speeding nearby around 11 p.m. on June 13, the night of Loan’s disappearance. This truck entered a rural road leading to El Algarrobal, the area where Loan was last seen.
Simultaneously, detectives conducted a search of the home of Cristian Bertón, Caillava’s ex-brother-in-law, who also owns a white truck.
On Sunday, federal judge Cristina Pozzer Penzo led a series of operations in the so-called “zero zone,” a pivotal point in the investigation located in El Algarrobal. This area marked the last trace of Loan. The judge visited the home of Abundio Escobar, an ambulance technician, who testified on June 20 that he heard a child calling for his mother at approximately 6:30 p.m. on the day Loan disappeared.
Currently, there are eight suspects who face charges related to the abduction of the minor: Antonio Benítez, Mónica Millapi, Daniel Ramírez, María Victoria Caillava, Carlos Pérez, Walter Maciel, Laudelina Peña, and Francisco Amado Méndez.
After a week of interrogations for most of the suspects, the case has returned to a secretive status. The former police chief Maciel was the last to testify, declaring his detention as unjust and stating he was “prepared to be a police officer, not a prisoner.” He implicated Laudelina and highlighted suspicious behavior from the rest of the family.
Continuing into Monday, further testimonies are expected, particularly from Méndez, a retired provincial police officer who was arrested last Wednesday following the child’s aunt confronting the judge and contradicting an initial accident narrative. Notably, Maciel had saved Méndez’s contact in his phone as “informant.”
Laudelina mentioned, “The last time I saw Loan, he passed through the gate with the other kids. I didn’t see him being hit by a truck, but a vehicle could have picked him up if someone took him.” She hinted that either Ramírez or Méndez could be involved.
Méndez played a key role in discovering evidence related to Loan’s case. He was on-site when the evidence was found and immediately contacted Maciel to report the discovery. After locating the relevant items, he interacted with those present, including Laudelina and her daughter Macarena, who identified a shoe. As a former police officer, Méndez knew the protocols for managing a crime scene, and after ensuring the area was secure, he left, considering his duty fulfilled.
“Waiting to determine who took Loan is crucial. We know nothing; where he is remains a mystery, and we need someone to speak up. The search must continue until we find him,” stated José Peña, Loan’s brother, in an interview with LN+. He expressed distrust in the detained individuals and emphasized the need for justice to intensify efforts, saying, “It infuriates me that they won’t talk at this stage. One of those arrested knows where Loan is, and they are protecting themselves.”
This story is still developing.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/policiales/2024/07/22/caso-loan-allanan-la-casa-del-hijo-de-victoria-caillava-y-realizan-pericias-a-una-camioneta/
