Desperté y mi hija de 5 años ya no estaba | Wendy #Penitencia 175 #México

Upon reporting her daughter's disappearance, Wendy was immediately detained at the MP, accused of involvement. Her husband, Bruno, was also quickly brought in and detained. The authorities spent five days interrogating them, focusing on forcing a confession rather than initiating a comprehensive search for the missing 5-year-old. This initial response set a precedent for the entire investigation, prioritizing culpability over discovery.

Wendy recounts arriving at the MP around 8:30 AM after discovering her daughter missing at 7 AM, only to be told, 'You're detained.' She states, 'far from helping us, it harmed us, and far from looking for the girl, the point was more than anything, to blame them, to frame the crime.'

Despite the severe accusations, the prosecution's case lacks concrete, verifiable evidence. Wendy and Bruno provided DNA samples, clothing, and hair from Macdiel, but these were never reportedly used for DNA testing. The 'evidence' presented includes a blurry video of a car far from their house, 'blood' found in their abandoned home three years after the disappearance (after it had been looted and vandalized), and neighbor testimonies about their parenting, which the parents argue were misinterpretations of their lifestyle.

Wendy states, 'they have evidence of furniture and clothes and X, but... there's blood and that, but the evidence is not there.' Bruno adds, 'they found blood on the bed and in some shoes... but they are things that are not there.' He also mentions, 'they haven't done DNA tests... there's blood, but they don't know whose blood it is.' The house was re-inspected 3 years later, after being abandoned and looted, to find new 'evidence' like blood stains, which were not present in initial reports.

During the initial four years, Wendy was manipulated into suspecting her husband, Bruno, by an activist and the authorities. She even made a statement against him, believing it would help find her daughter. This highlights the psychological pressure exerted on victims, forcing them to turn against each other in a desperate search for answers, further complicating their situation.

Wendy admits, 'I fell into that trap... I did declare against my husband.' She explains, 'they told me, 'you're going to be a protected witness, and in any case, it will be against him.' And I said, 'Okay, that's fine.' I said, 'If it's to find my daughter, do whatever it takes.''

After four years of being told they were victims and that authorities were searching for Macdiel, Wendy and Bruno were re-arrested in March. They spent six months in separate prisons before being granted house arrest. This re-arrest, based on the same questionable evidence, reinforces the perception that authorities are more interested in closing cases with a 'culprit' than in solving them.

Wendy states, 'I was walking out one normal day to drop her off at school, and they cut me off again and said, 'Are you Wendy?'' She was re-arrested and taken to Chiconautla. Bruno also mentions, 'we were there for 5 days where they told us, you did it, you did something.'

The disappearance of Macdiel and the subsequent legal battle and imprisonment of her parents have profoundly traumatized their younger daughter. She is aware her sister was 'stolen' and that her parents were in prison. She has been subjected to questioning by DIF psychologists and even told by officials not to have 'illusions' about reuniting with her parents, further exacerbating her emotional distress.

Wendy describes her younger daughter saying, 'Mom, I'm here. I'm with you. I know you'll never stop looking for my sister, but I'm here.' Bruno recounts his younger daughter telling him, 'Dad, I already know where you are... you're in prison, Dad, because of my little sister.' He also mentions a DIF official telling his daughter not to 'have illusions' about returning with her parents.

The presence of a Santa Muerte altar in their home, a common devotion in parts of Mexico, was misinterpreted by investigators as evidence of a 'cult.' This cultural bias was used to build a narrative against the parents, suggesting they were involved in something sinister, further prejudicing the case.

Bruno explains that an investigator saw the Santa Muerte altar, a photo of Macdiel, and a lock of her hair, concluding, 'No, you know what, this is a cult.' He clarifies that the altar was his father's and Macdiel's photo was placed there by Wendy in desperation.