DistantNews
Support us
🇪🇨 Ecuador /Crime & Justice

Sister of Lizeth Bunshi demands justice after body found in Quito ravine

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The body of Lizeth Bunshi, who disappeared on July 19, was found 37 days later in a ravine in Quito, Ecuador.
  • Her sister, Norma Bunshi, has demanded justice, identifying the suspect as Cristian Villavicencio, who is currently detained and processed for involuntary disappearance.
  • The family is seeking to reclassify the investigation as femicide, seeking the maximum penalty for the crime.

The family of Lizeth Bunshi is mourning her loss and demanding justice after her body was discovered in a ravine in Quito, Ecuador, 37 days after her disappearance.

Norma Bunshi, Lizeth's sister, expressed gratitude for the efforts that led to finding her body and directly accused Cristian Villavicencio, who is detained and facing charges of involuntary disappearance, of her sister's death. The family implores the Prosecutor's Office to ensure justice is served and that Villavicencio is not released.

He threw my sister off.

— Norma BunshiSister of Lizeth Bunshi, accusing the detained suspect.

Lizeth Bunshi, a 28-year-old professional stylist and caregiver for her disabled mother, vanished on July 19 while returning home. Her remains were identified through dental records, braces, and a tattoo, though they were found in an advanced state of decomposition. The family has since taken possession of her remains for a wake in Quito.

We hope justice is done and the causes of her death are clarified.

— Norma BunshiSister of Lizeth Bunshi, demanding a thorough investigation.

The family's legal defense plans to request a reclassification of the charges to alleged femicide. They contend that Cristian Gonzalo V. allegedly dragged Lizeth to the ravine following an episode of violence. If convicted, the defense aims for the maximum penalty, which could be up to 34 years and eight months.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, with a reconstruction of the events scheduled for August 30. The case is under a 62-day investigation period to gather necessary evidence to determine responsibilities. Lizeth Bunshi leaves behind a 9-year-old son.

Our main concern was finding Lizeth, and we have done so. We set a precedent so that her case receives justice.

— Freddy RonLawyer for the family, commenting on the outcome of the search efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog