Mother Searching for Disappeared Daughter Murdered in Colombia

New details have emerged regarding the murder of Claribel Moreno, a mother who had been tirelessly searching for her disappeared daughter for nearly five years. Moreno was found dead on May 13 on the side of a road in a rural area of Jamundí, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Her death occurred while she was actively seeking justice for her daughter, Natalia Buitrago, who vanished on August 18, 2021.

Moreno had been vocal about the investigation into her daughter's disappearance, frequently using social media to denounce the lack of progress and the institutional revictimization she faced. In a recent Instagram video, she expressed her frustration, stating, "I have been looking for my daughter Natalia for 4 years, four years waiting for the Prosecutor's Office to give us an answer and give us the possibility, the opportunity to work on what has been presented and what has been contributed to the search for my daughter... Despite the fact that in Cartagena they made me wait more than two months to file the respective report for forced disappearance, they revictimize me, they point fingers at me and they delay the process."

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I will continue to raise my voice, as I always have, without fear.

According to her other daughter, Paola Buitrago, Claribel Moreno left her farm around 2:00 p.m. on May 13 for a medical appointment in Jamundí. After her appointment, she ran some errands, including making purchases and withdrawing money. Around 5:30 p.m., as she was returning to her rural property, she was intercepted by several men about 300 meters after crossing a bridge over the Claro River. She was shot four times in the back, succumbing to her injuries at the scene. The accompanying individual on the motorcycle also died.

A candlelight vigil in memory of Claribel Moreno was held on May 15. Her sister, Paola, recounted the events, emphasizing that Claribel's public statements, instead of yielding answers, led to further victimization and legal complaints. The article highlights the tragic irony of Moreno's death, occurring while she was advocating for justice for her missing daughter, a search that had consumed her life for years.

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I have been looking for my daughter Natalia for 4 years, four years waiting for the Prosecutor's Office to give us an answer and give us the possibility, the opportunity to work on what has been presented and what has been contributed to the search for my daughter... Despite the fact that in Cartagena they made me wait more than two months to file the respective report for forced disappearance, they revictimize me, they point fingers at me and they delay the process.