The Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office informed through its accounts on December 31 that after conducting several forensic analyses, the incinerated bodies found on December 24 corresponded to the four minors who disappeared in the city of Guayaquil: Saúl Arboleda, Steven Medina, and brothers Josué and Ismael Arroyo.
“Malvinas case: the Attorney General’s Office of Ecuador informs that the results of the forensic genetics experts confirm that the four bodies found in Taura correspond to the 3 adolescents and the child disappeared after a military operation, last December 8,” the Attorney General’s Office wrote.
The news was announced during the hearing for the indictment of the 16 military personnel involved in the apprehension of the minors, who were ordered to be remanded in custody for the crime of “forced disappearance” for the duration of the trial and the investigations.
Luis Arroyo, father of the missing brothers, said “We are devastated. I have no words. We always hoped that they were alive. We have no strength for anything… All we want is for justice to be done for our sons.”
🕊🤍Unas mil personas acompañaron el sepelio de Ismael Arroyo, Josué Arroyo, Saúl Arboleda y Steven Medina, desaparecidos forzosamente y asesinados. Sus familias, abrazadas, sollozando, recordaron a sus niños y exigieron justicia contra la violencia militar.
Sonaba:
“Que… pic.twitter.com/RBAxG7baYL
— Karol E. Noroña (@KarolNorona) January 1, 2025
According to the Secretary of Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo, the minors were arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman. However, the prosecutor in charge has denied the claims made by Loffredo, stating that there is no evidence of such an accusation. The case has caused enormous discontent in the country due to the actions of the military against the four Afro-Ecuadorian minors and the callous attitude of the political authorities, such as Loffredo himself and President Daniel Noboa, who before learning of the confirmation of the death of the children proposed that they be declared “national heroes”.
A video shows how the boys were beaten and taken away by several members of the Air Force in a white van after a soccer game. Subsequently, the father of one of the boys received a call from his son asking for help. Whoever lent his cell phone to the boy reported that the minors were found naked and beaten, although no further information about what happened afterward has been disclosed.
According to two military officers interviewed, after the apprehension the minors were released, although no evidence of this has been offered. The investigation has yet to determine what happened to the four minors who were brutally murdered and incinerated and who is responsible for this crime that has caused deep consternation in Ecuadorian society.
