Imagine the horror of a mother losing her child to unimaginable brutality over a mere £39 debt. This tragic reality unfolded in La Paz, Mexico, where five-year-old Fernando’s life was stolen from him by the very people who were supposed to be his neighbors.

Fernando’s heartbreaking story began when his mother, Noemi Gomez, borrowed 1,000 pesos—roughly £39—from loan sharks to keep up with her rent. When she couldn’t pay the debt, the unthinkable happened; on July 28, 2023, the gang, who lived nearby, kidnapped Fernando as a form of collateral.

Days passed, and the desperate search for little Fernando took a chilling turn. His mother, who struggles with a communication disability, bravely attempted to retrieve her son. But instead of help, she faced threats and violence from the very criminals who held her child captive. According to neighbor Maria Pascual, “The day she went to ask for her child, they tried to beat her because she couldn't speak well.”

As days turned into an agonizing wait, the local authorities were sluggish to respond to Noemi's pleas for help. Despite her efforts to report her son missing, she was shifted from one office to another, receiving little assistance. Finally, after the case caught the attention of a domestic violence agency, police accompanied Noemi to the suspected location. Tragically, on August 4, just six days after Fernando was abducted, they discovered his lifeless body in a black bag.

The forensic report was harrowing; it revealed that Fernando had died from a blow to the head—likely from a hammer—and suffered multiple injuries without food or water during his captivity. His uncle, Alfredo Gomez, was devastated, stating, “My sister went to the council and then an office in Nezahualcóyotl, and she was ignored. They should do their job because this could have been avoided.”

This tragedy has left the local community in a state of outrage, with many questioning the authorities' slow response to such a horrific crime. “He was a loving kid,” his mother lamented, fighting for justice in a world that failed to protect her son. “He wasn't to blame for anything that happened. I want justice for him.” All three suspects involved are now facing charges of kidnapping and murder, but the haunting reality of this case will echo in the hearts of many.