The Federal Police conducted a major operation this morning in search of Loan Danilo Peña in Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz. The boy has been missing for over a month, and this time, authorities are pursuing leads suggesting he might still be alive. A report surfaced indicating that a man had encountered a child claiming to be the missing boy.
The child allegedly told the potential witness, “I am Loan.” The witness, identified as J.F., a 46-year-old military sub-official in the Argentine Army, reported the sighting after waiting for his wife at the intersection of San Martín and Alem avenues. According to the police report, while J.F. was at this location, another child approached him and said, “I am Loan.” Shortly after, an adult with the child took him away, with J.F. not knowing their direction.
Infobae reached out to the man who made the report, but he stated he was not authorized to comment before abruptly ending the call. The information was forwarded to federal prosecutor Norberto Bellber, based in Comodoro Rivadavia. He instructed the investigation team to check security camera footage and set up roadblocks on National Route No. 3 and Provincial Route No. 39, as well as between National Routes No. 3 and No. 26.
However, the operation appears to be a process of elimination. High-ranking sources close to the investigation have expressed skepticism about this lead, which is part of a series of false alarms. Since the disappearance, authorities have received multiple calls—483 reports in total on the emergency line 134, all investigated with follow-up checks by the police.
Despite extensive searches and multiple arrests during lengthy interrogations led by federal judge Cristina Pozzer Penzo, Loan, who went missing on June 13 in Corrientes, has not yet been found. A reward of 5 million pesos has been offered for reliable information leading to his whereabouts.
In the first two weeks of the search, more than 12,000 hectares were scoured with tactical divers, drones, and police dogs, but no evidence has emerged. Efforts included exploring locations in Chaco, Santiago del Estero, and a campsite in Zárate, which also yielded no results.
In late June, a separate investigation conducted by the Córdoba Justice Department followed up on a report from a woman who claimed she saw a child resembling Loan near a health center. This triggered further searching and inquiries to confirm or refute the sighting, but it turned out to be yet another false alarm.
Despite the absence of concrete information, the investigation continues vigorously. A high-ranking source stated, “When there’s no reliable information, we pursue every lead.”
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/policiales/2024/07/23/buscan-a-loan-vivo-en-caleta-olivia-tras-el-llamado-de-un-chico-la-policia-federal-realiza-un-allanamiento/
