A group living in Chiclayo, a city in the Lambayeque region in northern Peru, faced a chilling incident at dawn when a three-year-old girl was abducted and a home belonging to a man accused of sexually assaulting her was set ablaze. Prosecutors have since sought a life sentence for the alleged offender, signaling the gravity with which authorities and the community are treating the case.
The sequence of events stretches from mid-April, when the child was first reported missing, to the current week when police located the girl and arrested a 48-year-old man accused of sexual assault and kidnapping. The act sparked widespread outrage as neighbors confronted the suspect, and a fire followed shortly after. The streets of Chiclayo were soon crowded with residents calling for harsh punishment, including life imprisonment, reflecting a collective demand for accountability in a case that has shaken public confidence in safety for children.
On Thursday, the National Prosecutor’s Office disclosed that the detainee, identified as Juan Antonio Enríquez García, has been placed under nine months of interim detention as authorities advance the charges of abducting and raping a minor. The judiciary issued the precautionary detention order at the request of the provincial prosecutor, Martín Muñoz Basauri, with the understanding that if proven, the defendant could face the maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The ministry of the Public Justice system conveyed these details through its official channels, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations and the preliminary investigative posture of the case.
The case reverberated across Peruvian media and social networks, prompting statements from high-ranking officials on the matter. Justice and Human Rights Minister Félix Chero articulated a firm stance, describing the perpetrator in unequivocal terms and urging the public to demand strong sanctions. Chero emphasized that the case rests on concrete facts, evidence, and deliberate actions that justify a life sentence for the individual who violated a vulnerable child. The minister spoke during an interview with a major radio network, urging both the Public Ministry and the Judiciary to fulfill their roles decisively. Diana Miloslavich, Minister of Women and Vulnerable Population, echoed the support for the victim’s family and reiterated the commitment to protecting children, stating on social media that there was a strong basis for demanding the severest penalties and ensuring continued care for the victim and her relatives.