Who was Nathaly Mafla, the Polytechnic student found dead in Quito?

The death of Nathaly Mafla Castillo, a 20-year-old systems engineering student at the Escuela Politécnica Nacional, has sent shockwaves through the university community and beyond. Mafla, originally from Tulcán, had moved to Quito with aspirations of becoming a professional. Her disappearance on June 4, 2026, triggered an extensive search by her family, friends, and fellow students.

Security cameras captured Mafla leaving the university campus and heading towards the La Vicentina sector. Days later, her body was discovered by police approximately 20 meters deep in a ravine in the area. The Fiscalía is investigating the circumstances surrounding her death and has requested DNA tests to clarify the case.

Her mother, Elizabeth Castillo, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, expressing the profound pain of losing her daughter so soon. "My darling girl: I never thought you would leave me so soon," she wrote, conveying that her daughter had taken "a large part" of her soul with her. Friends remembered Mafla as a "spectacular and beautiful person, with one of the most beautiful hearts."

Mafla was described as a responsible and committed student. Her mother noted that she left her hometown to pursue her professional goals. Her peers recalled her as a young woman with great ambitions and a life full of dreams. The investigation into her death is ongoing, with authorities seeking to piece together her final moments.