Testimony details the moments before disappearance
Antonio Benítez, partner of Laudelina Peña and one of the accused in the disappearance of Loan Peña, testified before the court about the moments he lost sight of the 5-year-old on the afternoon of June 13, 2024, in Corrientes. He said he suddenly stopped seeing the child and was overcome with desperation.[S1][S2]
Benítez recounted his movements that morning: he took Laudelina to the grandmother Catalina's field around 8 a.m., returned home, then went out with an acquaintance named Fabián to look for Sebastián González. He returned around 10:40 a.m. and left again around 11:30 a.m. to pick up his son from school.[S1][S2]
The lunch and the walk to the orange grove
After picking up his son, Benítez passed by where his horses were and headed to Catalina's house. There he met Laudelina, Victoria, and Pérez. Later, Ramírez, Camila, and others arrived. During lunch, Loan sat next to José. Benítez said he felt uncomfortable due to the presence of Pérez and Caillava and their conversation about politics with Catalina and José.[S1][S2]
Feeling uneasy, he left the table and went to the orange grove. About 15 to 20 minutes later, Ramírez, Mónica Millapi, and the children arrived. The kids picked oranges and started eating them. His son took one and then gave another to Loan. While the children played, Ramírez received a phone call and stepped away.[S1]
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The moment Loan disappeared
Benítez said the group began walking. He was in front, Ramírez second, and the children in the middle, with Mónica last. One of the children shouted 'uncle, uncle.' Benítez asked what happened, and a minor said the aunt said a child was missing. He looked at the group and realized Loan was gone. Ramírez suggested he might have gone to the house.[S1]
At 2:24 p.m., Benítez tried to call his wife. A minute later, he called again and asked if Loan was there. She said the child had gone toward them, but Benítez said he didn't know where he was. He later searched the area with Ramírez, then continued alone, even going to González's field about two kilometers away, but found no trace.[S1][S2]
False alarm and arrest
During the search, Benítez was told Loan had been found. He cried with joy, but no one could explain who gave that information. Báez, the chief of commissioner Walter Maciel, later said it was a false alarm, causing desperation again. Police from 9 de Julio, Santa Lucía, and Goya were to divide into groups to continue searching.[S2]
Later, Benítez was intercepted by a police officer who told him to get into the vehicle, handcuffed him, took his phone, asked for the code, and began checking it. The testimony adds to the trial for the disappearance of Loan Danilo Peña, seeking to establish what happened during and after the lunch.[S2]
