Inpec's Dragoneante was shot dead on a public road in the east of Cali: the attack was in front of his home and his wife was injured

Authorities in Cali continue their search for the baby of María Camila Potosí, the 21-year-old pregnant woman who was found murdered near the river Meléndez on July 20, 2026. The case has sparked widespread public concern and outrage, with two main hypotheses currently under investigation regarding the child’s whereabouts. Police have not ruled out either possibility, maintaining active efforts to locate the infant, whose fate remains unknown. The body of María Camila Potosí was discovered approximately three kilometers from the river Meléndez, along the route leading to the La Buitrera neighborhood. She had been eight months into her pregnancy when she was killed. According to preliminary investigations, the victim had been contacted by a woman she trusted, part of a program aimed at supporting expectant mothers. Four days after her disappearance, authorities located her body, and initial findings suggested that the unborn child had been removed from her womb. This led to an urgent search for the newborn, who was expected to be named Alahia. General Herbert Benavídez, commander of the Metropolitan Police of Cali, stated that one of the current lines of inquiry involves information suggesting the baby may not have survived. “We have received some calls indicating that the baby might not have lived,” he explained. However, he emphasized that this is only one of two ongoing possibilities being explored. “We are also working on the hypothesis that the baby could still be alive, since there is no confirmation otherwise,” he added. A specialized team, including police investigators, intelligence units, and the Gaula unit, continues the search both for the child and the perpetrators. Subintendant Andrés Ortiz of the Metropolitan Police reiterated that neither of the two hypotheses has been dismissed. “These are the two scenarios we are managing,” he said. “We are searching for the baby, whether alive or dead, because we don’t have certainty about her condition.” He noted that the search and reward process remain active, with a reward of up to 200 million pesos offered for information leading to the identification of the killers and the location of the child. Meanwhile, the mother of María Camila, Alba Rubi Gómez, expressed uncertainty over whether the body found in the area corresponds to her granddaughter. In an interview with EL TIEMPO, she stated that although the information has become public, she has not yet received an official report from the Public Prosecutor's Office. “I don’t know if it’s true or not that the baby found there is my granddaughter,” she said. She maintains hope that the child is still alive, emphasizing that she has not been officially informed of the situation. Gómez also shared her emotional struggle, describing how the crime has deeply affected her family. “I don’t understand why they did this to us. As far as I know, we’ve always been a united family,” she said. Despite the lack of official communication, she remains hopeful that the child may still be alive. “I haven’t heard anything from the prosecutor’s office yet, so I keep hoping she might still be alive,” she told EL TIEMPO. In response to the growing public outcry, authorities have formed a special search group composed of multiple institutions, including firefighters, civil defense teams, the military, and national police. Jorge Romero, the Secretary of Security and Justice for Cali, confirmed that flyers are being distributed to encourage citizen participation in the search. “We are delivering these flyers to ask the community for any information that can help clarify this terrible crime,” he said. The message is clear: the search will not stop until the culprits are identified and the child is found. The case of María Camila Potosí and her unborn child has drawn attention beyond local communities, with hundreds gathering in the southern part of Cali for a vigil in memory of the young mother. The tragedy underscores the vulnerability of women and children in the region, highlighting the need for stronger measures against violence and exploitation. As the investigation unfolds, the search for the baby continues, driven by both professional commitment and public solidarity.