Where is Sofía Cortés Ortiz, daughter of the ex-manager of Corfecali?: 'She was going to see her little brother at a court two blocks from her house and never arrived'
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A 15-year-old girl, Sofía Cortés Ortiz, disappeared on July 2nd after leaving her home in the Quintas de Don Simón neighborhood in Cali, Colombia.
- Her father, Argemiro Cortés, a former manager of Corfecali, is pleading for public assistance to find her, authorizing the publication of her case.
- The family has reportedly received anonymous calls from individuals claiming to be kidnappers demanding money, though the authenticity of these calls is unconfirmed.
The family of 15-year-old Sofía Cortés Ortiz is desperately seeking information after she vanished on July 2nd. Sofía left her home in the Quintas de Don Simón neighborhood in the south of Cali, Colombia, with the intention of visiting her younger brother at a basketball court just two blocks away. She never arrived, and her whereabouts remain unknown.
The mother was waiting for her at the court and she never arrived. We don't know what happened.
Her father, Argemiro Cortés, who previously served as the manager of the Corporation of Events, Fairs, and Shows (Corfecali), has authorized the publication of his daughter's case in hopes that public awareness will aid in her safe return. "The mother was waiting for her at the court and she never arrived. We don't know what happened," Cortés stated, expressing his anguish and uncertainty.
I think, as she is such a pretty girl, someone approached her, but we don't know anything. We ask for all possible help.
Family lawyer Élmer Montaña, a former prosecutor, confirmed that Sofía's father is working with the Prosecutor's Office to expedite the search efforts. The family is concerned that Sofía, described as a beautiful young girl, may have been approached by someone. "I think, as she is such a pretty girl, someone approached her, but we don't know anything," Cortés added, appealing for any possible help.
She did not return home, no one saw her again. We were calling people close to her. Argemiro works with me and I am his lawyer.
Adding to the family's distress, they have reportedly received anonymous phone calls from individuals claiming to be kidnappers demanding money. However, it remains unconfirmed whether these calls are genuine or part of an extortion scheme. The family, friends, and community are united in their plea for Sofía's safe return home. Anyone with information is urged to contact the provided number.
They don't speak well, they say it's a kidnapping, but it could be extortion or something else. We don't know.
Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.