Body of missing child found in her bedroom in case that has gripped Mexico

Mexican police find body of missing girl at home

TOLUCA, Mexico — The body of a disabled 4-year-old girl was found Wednesday in her own bedroom, 10 days after her wealthy parents reported her missing and stirred nationwide sympathy with a public campaign to find her.

Investigators found Paulette Gebara Farah’s body inside a piece of furniture, said Mexico state prosecutors’ spokesman Alfredo Albiter, who gave no other details because the investigation is ongoing.

Paulette’s parents reported the girl, who had difficulties walking and talking, had vanished during the night after they put her to bed in their apartment in Huixquilican, an upscale suburb of Mexico City.

Mauricio Gebara and Lisette Farah scattered images of the girl wearing a princess dress on billboards and flyers across Mexico City, a region where occasional reports of child stealing have created dread among many parents.

In television interviews, Farah said she had put Paulette to bed in her bedroom the night of March 21. The next morning, one of her nannies reported that Paulette wasn’t in her room.

Investigators found no signs of forced entry to the apartment and on Monday Mexico state Attorney General Alberto Bazbaz announced Gebara, Farah, and two nannies had been detained for further questioning after giving conflicting statements to police. No one has been charged in the case.

Farah pleaded for her daughter’s return at a news conference held outside their apartment building Sunday night .

“Please, I’m desperate. Half of my heart has been taken,” she said.

Albiter said an autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.