Education Ministry Official Found Dead in Quito After Disappearance

Authorities in Quito have confirmed the discovery of Mónica Luzuriaga, an official from the Ministry of Education, who was found deceased after being reported missing. Luzuriaga, 38, was last seen on Monday, July 27, 2026, leaving her workplace around 7:30 p.m. She was reportedly riding a black bicycle and heading towards her home in the Ponciano neighborhood.

The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture issued an internal statement expressing deep sorrow and solidarity with Luzuriaga's family and colleagues. The communique specifically mentioned her role within the National Directorate of Public Procurement.

Later that evening, the Prosecutor's Office officially confirmed Luzuriaga's death. Her body was found in a property located in the northern part of Quito. Investigators have collected evidence from the scene to initiate the corresponding inquiries into her death. The Prosecutor's Office also shared an update on Twitter regarding the discovery and the ongoing investigation.

Luzuriaga was last seen wearing jeans, a blue jacket, and a red helmet. Her image was widely circulated by police and the Ministry of the Interior on social media to solicit public assistance in the search. This case follows a pattern of recent disappearances in Quito, including those of Nathaly Mafla and Héctor Rojas, who were also found deceased. Meanwhile, the search for another missing person, Lizeth Bunshi, continues along the Machángara River.

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El Ministerio de Educación, Deportes y Cultura, ante el sensible fallecimiento de Mónica Luzuriaga Velasco, expresa el profundo sentimiento de pesar y solidaridad a su distinguida familia y seres queridos y, en especial, a sus compañeros de la Dirección Nacional de Compras Públicas.