A 10-year-old girl taken to hospital with severe stomach pain was discovered to be six months pregnant, prompting the arrest of her stepfather over alleged abuse.
The child was examined by a doctor in Argentina, which led to an investigation into the circumstances of her pregnancy. The case has shocked the local community, with the girl's family speaking out as authorities work to establish what happened.
Hospital Examination Reveals Pregnancy
The girl was admitted to the emergency department at Colonia Dora Hospital in the province of Santiago del Estero, accompanied by her mother, after suffering severe abdominal pain. An obstetrician who examined her found she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. The mother had reportedly told the doctor that the girl had not yet started her periods.
During the consultation, the child identified her stepfather, 33-year-old Julio Vivas, as the man responsible for the alleged abuse. Prosecutor Guillermo Farías, who is leading the investigation, ordered Vivas's immediate arrest after learning of the allegations.
Arrest and Investigation
Police officers travelled to a property in the rural area of El Bracho, where Vivas was living with the girl and her mother. He was arrested on Tuesday morning, and officers seized his mobile phone as part of their inquiries. The investigation has also involved the Women's Police Station, while authorities are gathering evidence and taking statements to determine the circumstances of the alleged abuse.
Vivas remains in custody as the case progresses.
Family and Community Reaction
The girl's grandmother, Norma Gómez, spoke of her distress following the discovery, claiming she had previously warned her daughter about trusting the man. Speaking to local broadcaster Noticiero 7, she said her daughter, Andrea, had met Vivas online.
“She – that is, Andrea, her daughter – met him over the phone, but I always told her not to trust him too much,” Norma said.
The grandmother also revealed she had experienced similar trauma during her own childhood, describing the pain of learning what had allegedly happened to her granddaughter. “I went through the same thing as the little girl did when I was eight. I know that kind of suffering,” she said.
Norma added: “I always used to tell my husband: if anyone so much as lays a finger on one of my children, I’ll kill them with my own hands.” She has called for justice and urged authorities to ensure the accused does not escape accountability.
Meanwhile, the girl's teacher, Lucrecia, said she had not noticed anything unusual about the child's behaviour at school. “She is a quiet girl; she does her homework… I have never noticed any strange behaviour on her part, nor has she ever been unwell,” she told local media.
Ongoing Investigation
Reports have also raised concerns about the wider family environment, with allegations that the girl's mother had been living amid violence and intimidation. Investigators are continuing to collect evidence, including examining the seized phone, as they work to establish the full circumstances of the case.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the girl's medical condition or the arrangements made to protect her welfare.
