New arrest in separate abuse case
Roque Lucero, the paternal grandfather of Guadalupe Belén Lucero, who disappeared in June 2021 in San Luis, was detained on Sunday in connection with an independent investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a minor. The arrest was reported by El Chorrillero, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a charge formulation hearing, where details of the accusation and requested measures will be disclosed.[S1]
Authorities have kept key information under seal, including the victim's age, the circumstances of the complaint, and the legal classification. This detention follows a previous charge in April for another sexual abuse case, stemming from a November 2024 complaint by a young neighbor who was a minor at the time and has a disability. In that case, he was charged with severely outrageous sexual abuse, but was not detained; instead, restrictions were imposed, including a ban on leaving San Luis province and periodic check-ins.[S1][S2]
Family reactions and investigation context
The April charges prompted Guadalupe's mother, Yamila Cialone, and maternal grandmother, Silvia Domínguez, to request a federal review of the grandfather's role in the main disappearance investigation. They did not accuse him of the disappearance but asked that his sexual abuse history be examined as a specific line of inquiry. Cialone stressed that when a child is missing, no one is protected and all possibilities must be investigated.[S1][S2]
In contrast, Guadalupe's father, Eric Lucero, and his lawyer, Héctor Zavala Agüero, rejected any link between the abuse charges and the disappearance. They noted that Roque Lucero was thoroughly investigated in the early years of the federal case, including searches and analysis of his movements on the day of the disappearance, which they say ruled out any connection.[S1][S2]
Five years without answers
Guadalupe was five years old when she vanished on June 14, 2021, around 7:20 p.m. while playing at a family gathering in the 544 Viviendas neighborhood of San Luis. Despite extensive efforts, including hundreds of searches, camera analysis, and phone intercepts, no conclusive leads have emerged. The case remains open, and the family continues to demand that all hypotheses be pursued.[S1]
In May, the National Security Ministry increased the reward for information leading to Guadalupe to 20 million pesos, quadrupling the previous amount. An updated age-progressed image was also released. Authorities urge anyone with information to call the free and confidential line 134 of the National Rewards Program.[S1]
