A search is underway for model María Alejandra Molina Solano, 27, who vanished after travelling for a work assignment, with her family trying to piece together her movements from bank statements and text messages.
María last exchanged messages with her sister Natalia on 11 October, but has not been heard from since, as her last message went unanswered. Her relatives have been checking messages, photographs and bank transactions to establish where she was staying and who she was working with.
Details of Her Disappearance
María travelled from the Colombian capital Bogotá on 8 October after reportedly securing work as a promotional model for marketing events. However, she later reportedly told her family conflicting reports of where she was.
She told her sister she had arrived safely and sent a photograph of a welcome sign, but the family has been unable to identify the accommodation where she was staying. She reportedly said she needed to wait until 3pm to check in before preparing to go to work.
Last Contact and Clues
Her last message to Natalia was received at around 6.53pm on 11 October, but her sister's reply went unanswered. The following day, WhatsApp messages were no longer reaching her phone.
A bank transfer worth around £33 (COP 172,000), made at 6.41pm that evening, has become another potential clue. A friend said the payment was made to an Airbnb, but the family has not been able to confirm the destination or purpose of the transaction.
Investigation Widens
Relatives have also been left puzzled by a photograph of the room where María was apparently staying, as they do not know whether it was a hotel or a rented apartment. Her phone is reportedly switched off and her social media accounts have shown no recent activity.
The family has also been investigating conflicting information about her destination, as María reportedly told her mother she was travelling to Medellín, while telling her sister she was in Cali.
The investigation has now widened, with Colombia's Attorney General's Office examining whether María may have left the country, potentially against her will. Investigators are checking flight and passenger records, as well as toll records and security camera footage, to establish whether she crossed a border and how she may have travelled.
There is currently no confirmation that she has left Colombia, and investigators are also trying to establish whether she remains in the country. At the time of writing, the search for María continues.
