Cristina Siekavizza

Cristina Siekavizza (born 9 December 1977) is a Guatemala City mother of two children whose disappearance and possible murder by her husband early in July 2011 resulted in an extensive national news coverage focused on the connected issues of femicide and impunity.

Cristina Siekavizza
Born (1977-12-09) 9 December 1977
Guatemala City, Guatemala
DisappearedJuly 7, 2011 (aged 33)
Guatemala City
StatusMissing for 9 years, 6 months and 30 days
OccupationHousewife
Spouse(s)Roberto Eduardo Barreda de Leon
Children2

Roberto Barreda ("deceased" on August 6, 2020 in the city of Guatemala) was the main suspect in the disappearance and possible murder of his wife, Cristina Siekavizza. The crime would have occurred on July 6, 2011 and the trial was expected to take place in April 2020. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented its realization.

In this case, Ofelia de León, Roberto's mother and former president of the Supreme Court of Justice, is also accused. Investigator Óscar José Celada Cuevas and Javier Armando Mendizábal Ruiz are also implicated, whom the MP accuses of hiding information about the disappearance of Cristina Siekavizza.

Investigations

The case was originally thought to be a kidnapping, and private investigators were hired to solve the case.[1] After several weeks passed without a call from the alleged kidnappers, the case was turned over to the Guatemalan police. As the police began to investigate, they found incriminating evidence (traces of blood in the house) against Cristina's husband, Roberto Barreda de León. A housekeeper testified that there had been a violent domestic quarrel the evening before the woman's disappearance and that she had seen her lifeless body lying in one of the rooms.[2]

Prosecution of the husband

In early August, before the housekeeper could even testify and while the search for Cristina was still going on, Roberto Barreda suddenly disappeared with the family's two children, Roberto José (age 7) and Maria Mercedes (age 4).[3] An international warrant was issued for his arrest.[4] In the meantime, three persons were arrested on the suspicion of having aided the husband in removing the traces of the crime.[5] On 21 October 2011, Roberto Barreda's mother, Beatriz Ofelia de León, ex-magistrate of the Supreme Court of Guatemala, was arrested for corruption of justice in the Siekavizza case.[6] Roberto Barreda was finally caught in Mérida, Yucatán (Mexico) and extradited on 8 November 2013. Since then, his lawyers have consistently attempted to obstruct the course of justice, so that seven years after Cristina's disappearance, the process is still to begin, with the husband remaining in custody.

Public protests against femicide

Cristina's disappearance, and possible murder, have moved Guatemalans to demand justice against a growing epidemic of femicide happening in their country. Cristina's family has organized marches throughout Guatemala City (Obelisco, Avenida Las Américas, carretera an El Salvador and Vista Hermosa) to support victims of domestic violence.[7] Cristina Siekavizza's case has dominated the Guatemalan press since news of her disappearance went public.

See also

References
  1. Denuncian desaparición de joven en San José Pinula Archived 25 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  2. "2011: Cristina Siekavizza es vista por última vez". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  3. CNN – Guatemalan Family Disappears. 30 September 2011
  4. Wanted Persons / Internet / Home – INTERPOL Archived 29 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Interpol.int (31 August 1976). Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  5. "2011: Cristina Siekavizza es vista por última vez – Prensa Libre" (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  6. Exmagistrada Ofelia de León pasa la noche en carceleta Archived 24 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
  7. Protestan en apoyo a víctimas de violencia Archived 25 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Prensalibre.com (25 July 2011). Retrieved 2011-11-02.
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