One teenage girl remains missing more than a week after three minors left a children’s shelter in La Paz without authorization on April 7. The other two girls, ages 15 and 16, have returned to the facility.
Alberto Ceseña, director of the Baja California Sur branch of DIF (Mexico’s family services agency), confirmed the incident at the Casa Cuna-Casa Hogar shelter. He said staff filed a report with the PGJE (state attorney general’s office) immediately after the girls were discovered missing, activating official search protocols.
Girls Left Through Area Near Padel Court
According to Ceseña, the three teenagers left the facility through an area near the shelter’s padel court. He denied that poor conditions inside the shelter played any role in the girls’ decision to leave. The director said residents at Casa Cuna-Casa Hogar receive meals, education, and recreational activities as part of their care.
The shelter, operated by DIF in La Paz, houses minors who have been placed in state custody due to family situations or court orders. DIF shelters across Mexico serve as temporary and longer-term homes for children who cannot remain with their families.
Search Efforts Continue for Missing Teen
The PGJE has been involved in search efforts since April 7. While two of the three girls returned to the shelter on their own, authorities have not provided details about the identity or age of the girl who is still missing. No information has been released about the circumstances of her disappearance or possible leads in the search.
Baja California Sur has seen multiple cases of missing minors in recent years. In September 2024, the PGJE activated the Alba Protocol, a specialized search mechanism for missing women and girls, after two teenagers disappeared separately in La Paz and San José del Cabo.
Anyone in the La Paz area with information about an unaccompanied teenager is encouraged to contact the PGJE or local authorities. The state attorney general’s office can be reached through its offices in downtown La Paz.
This story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.