In Colombia, a seven-year-old girl kidnapped and raped for more than ten years

This Thursday, Colombian justice announced the detention of a man accused of having kidnapped a girl at the age of seven. He is also suspected of having kidnapped and raped her for 12 years, until she managed to escape. The victim “had been missing since» 2012 and, since then, had been moved between several houses in the municipalities of Medellin and Bello, according to a statement released by the Colombian prosecutor's office.

Of Colombian nationality, the accused, Carlos Humberto Grisales Higuita, was arrested on November 22 in Medellin and faces aggravated charges for the crimes of “kidnapping, rape and acts of pornography» on a minor under 14 years old. According to the prosecution, the man “psychologically manipulated and sexually subjugated» the victim, «making him believe that this behavior was normal».

The investigation indicates the man changed the minor's name, socially isolated her and withdrew her from school. At the age of 16, she “complained to the alleged perpetrator about the treatment she received and, in retaliation, was allegedly locked in a house“, from where she managed to escape in February. The suspect, a school bus driver, denied the charges against him during preliminary hearings. He was placed in detention by decision of a judge in Medellin. Videos of the events were found in his possession.