By News Editor 
Colombian student with special needs disappeared during recess period without school noticing and altering scene of her reputed disappearance.
The parents of Valeria Afanador, a 10 year old student at a school in the suburbs of Bogota, Colombia, have formally requested criminal charges against the principal and teachers at their daughter’s school in Cajicá, Colombia, a significant and welcomed escalation in a case that has gripped the nation’s attention during the summer.
Valeria Afanador was a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who disappeared from her school, Gimnasio Campestre Los Laureles, in Cajicá (a town near Bogotá) on August 12, 2025, and was found dead 18 days later in the nearby Frío River, a fact that was hinted at from surveillance footage showing the girl wandering off into a poorly guarded area of the school.
Legal Issues
The family alleges that school officials failed to protect their daughter and may have acted negligently or engaged in cover-ups. They claim administrators didn’t take timely action when problems arose affecting Valeria, leaving her in a vulnerable position. There was also rumored altering of video evidence and construction efforts that disturbed a potential crime scene.
The case has exposed potential institutional dysfunction at the Cajicá school, with anonymous sources pointing to internal conflicts and rivalries that may have compromised decision-making. Reports describe an environment of pressure and questionable choices that contributed to the current crisis.
Colombia’s education sector is now grappling with broader questions about student safety protocols. The Afanador case has highlighted systemic gaps including inadequate conflict resolution mechanisms, insufficient psychological support, and weak reporting channels for institutional problems.
Prosecutors have confirmed receipt of the criminal complaint and say they will examine all evidence and testimony provided by the family. The investigation is expected to be lengthy and could set important precedents for educational accountability in Colombia.
The controversy has mobilized parents, educators, and civil society groups nationwide, with many viewing Valeria’s case as emblematic of broader institutional failures in protecting vulnerable students. The outcome could influence how Colombian schools handle similar situations going forward.