Mexican police have arrested a couple suspected of kidnapping, torturing and murdering seven-year-old Fátima Aldrighett, whose body was found in a bin bag. The girl disappeared after leaving school in Mexico City on 11 February, and her body was discovered with signs of abuse four days later.
On Wednesday, police detained a man and a woman after finding items at a house linking them to her disappearance. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects were detained in a town in the State of Mexico with the support of the National Guard.
Fátima was waiting for her mother to pick her up outside her school when she disappeared. Local media reported that her mother was delayed by traffic, leaving the girl alone. Surveillance footage captured her with an unknown woman, who was later identified by police following a tip-off from her landlord.
An apartment in the Xochimilco area was searched, where photographs, Fátima's shoes and sweater, and the clothes worn by the female suspect on the day of the abduction were discovered. A reward of two million Mexican pesos (£83,000) was offered for information leading to the suspects.
The case has sparked outrage in Mexico, with thousands using the hashtag #JusticiaParaFatima. Relatives have criticised authorities for acting too slowly. Fátima's aunt, Sonia López, said that protocols were not followed and institutions failed to give the case proper attention. Mexico City's Attorney General has promised an investigation into how the case was handled.
