Mexicali, Baja California – In a heartbreaking conclusion to an intense search, Paola Bañuelos Flores, a 23-year-old woman who went missing in the early hours of July 8, was found dead on a property in Oasis Campestre, Mexicali. Paola disappeared after taking a taxi requested through a ride-hailing app.
According to preliminary reports, a K-9 officer discovered Paola’s body. The vehicle she had been in, a black Versa requested via the Didi app, was found abandoned at an undisclosed location. The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Baja California had issued a search card with limited details, indicating only that Paola had left her home in the Independencia neighborhood on July 7, wearing a white shirt with horizontal black stripes and a short skirt.
Paola’s mother, Mireya Flores, and her cousin, Dariana Sánchez, were instrumental in the search efforts. Dariana, the last person to see Paola alive, recounted that they were together at the nightclub “La Consentida” on the night of July 7. Paola boarded the Didi vehicle around 2:20 a.m., and soon after, all contact was lost.
The family and volunteers launched a city-wide search, organizing several tours around Mexicali. On the evening of July 9, a meeting was held to coordinate further search efforts. Mireya Flores, in an emotional interview with La Crónica, expressed her desperation and pleaded for her daughter’s safe return.
“Whoever has her, please take pity on my daughter, on me. I am desperate now, a day and a half without any news of her. If they are afraid of something, there are anonymous reports,” she said.
As the search continued, social media buzzed with images of a man identified as Sergio “N,” the alleged driver of the Didi vehicle. Reports suggested he might have fled to Obregón, Sonora.
The tragic news was confirmed by María Elena Andrade, head of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Baja California, who stated that the characteristics of the body found matched those of Paola Bañuelos. Following the confirmation, Paola’s family and friends took to social media and public platforms to express their grief and gratitude for the support received during the search.
Paola’s brother posted a heartfelt message: “Unfortunately it was not enough. I love you, my beautiful sister, I will miss you with a broken heart. I promise to take care of mom, dad, and our little sister. You are the most beautiful little angel that exists.”
The community at the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), where Paola studied Education Sciences, also voiced their sorrow and indignation. UABC’s rector, Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, issued a statement demanding justice and expressing solidarity with Paola’s family.
“The university community demands justice and stands in solidarity with the pain and feelings of the family in the face of this irreparable loss,” said Palafox Maestre.
Students and friends echoed these sentiments, expressing their sadness and calling for justice. “The university community is very sad about what happened; it feels very helpless to see these types of regrettable events continue to happen,” one student remarked. Another added, “Justice for Paola, let it not be one more unpunished case.”
As the investigation continues, the family and community of Paola Bañuelos Flores seek answers and justice for her untimely death, hoping that her case will not be another statistic in the ongoing issue of violence against women in Mexico.
