Argentine Woman’s Cancún Disappearance Tied to Mental Health

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) has dismissed the possibility that María Belén Zerda, a 38-year-old Argentine woman reported missing in Cancún, was the victim of a crime. Authorities clarified that Zerda suffers from schizophrenia and disappeared following an episode related to her condition.

Disappearance Linked to Mental Health Episode

Nine days after the activation of the Alba Protocol—a search mechanism for missing women—the FGE issued a statement confirming that Zerda was not forcibly abducted. Witnesses reported seeing her run into a wooded area during a schizophrenic episode, prompting the ongoing search operations.

The exact location where she was last seen has not been disclosed, nor have authorities confirmed whether search efforts began immediately after her disappearance or prior to the FGE’s public bulletin.

Parallel Search for Missing Nurse Continues

In a separate case, the FGE reported that search operations persist in Nicolás Bravo, a town in the Othón P. Blanco municipality, for Ramiro Cáceres López, a nurse who vanished the previous Monday. His disappearance has sparked protests among colleagues, who blocked roads and demonstrated to demand swifter action from authorities.

Search teams are also combing nearby areas, including Francisco Villa and adjacent communities, to locate Cáceres López as quickly as possible.

The FGE emphasized its commitment to resolving both disappearances and urged the public to report any relevant information.