State police in Baja California Sur removed an 11-year-old girl from her parents’ home in El Pescadero after a neighbor reported suspected domestic violence. Officers from the SSPE (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Estatal) Gender Violence Victims Unit confirmed the child had been suffering physical and psychological abuse.
The intervention took place in El Pescadero, a small coastal community in the municipality of La Paz, located about 45 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas along Highway 19. The town is home to a growing number of foreign residents and is a popular stop for travelers heading between Los Cabos and Todos Santos.
Child Denied Food, Medical Care, and Schooling
According to the state security agency, officers who responded to the citizen tip found that the girl’s biological parents had denied her medical attention, adequate food, and access to education. The Gender Violence Victims Unit documented both physical and psychological abuse during its assessment of the child’s condition.
A state prosecutor ordered the girl’s immediate removal from the home. She was placed in the provisional custody of a close relative. Authorities did not publicly identify the parents or the relative who took custody.
Criminal Investigation Opened Against Parents
The state attorney general’s office has opened a criminal investigation to determine the legal responsibility of the alleged abusers. The case remains under review, and no formal charges have been announced.
Under Baja California Sur state law, any person, including neighbors and bystanders, can report suspected child abuse directly to the SSPE’s Gender Violence Victims Unit. Reports can trigger rapid intervention, including emergency custody changes ordered by a prosecutor without waiting for a full court proceeding.
The Gender Violence Victims Unit operates under the state police and is specifically trained to handle cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, and gender-based crimes. The unit’s involvement in this case was prompted entirely by the anonymous citizen report.
El Pescadero has seen significant population growth in recent years as development spreads northward from Los Cabos. The community sits between the surf breaks of Cerritos Beach and the agricultural fields of the Pacific coast lowlands.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias and Tribuna de México.