By Natalia Rueda 
The brutal murder of Michelle Dayana González, a 15-year-old girl in Colombia, has left the country in shock and sparked cries for justice. González was found dismembered last Thursday, December 8 in the San Judas neighborhood of the city of Cali, Valle del Cauca.
The atrocious crime occurred during the night of last Thursday, December 7, while the country was celebrating the traditional “Noche de las Velitas” (Candlelight Night). Michelle Dayana was the victim of a dark and sinister character, Hárold Andrei Echeverry, who worked as a security guard at a mechanic shop.
The body parts of the minor were found in the same mechanic workshop, a scenario that has undoubtedly caused an even greater impact on society. However, the most alarming thing is that the alleged murderer already had a record for sexual crimes and was at large, and it was not the first time he had harassed Michelle and her sister.
Suspect captured
The authorities offered a reward of up to 100 million pesos for the whereabouts of Echeverry, who was a fugitive from justice. Meanwhile, Michelle Dayana’s family and friends bid her a final farewell at the Memorial La Ermita Park in the city of Yumbo, an emotional moment that evidences the pain and rage felt by Colombian society in the face of this terrible act of violence against women.
Harold Echeverry, a security guard at the same workshop where Michel’s body was found, was apprehended in the Ciudad Porfía neighborhood of Villavicencio. The capture was made possible thanks to a successful operation led by the Police, who had offered a reward for information leading to Echeverry’s whereabouts. This news has brought relief and satisfaction not only to Michel’s grieving family but also to the entire community who has been anxiously waiting for this day.
Echeverry had reportedly fled to the municipality of Chicoral, Tolima, where he managed to get help from religious groups to hide and then traveled to the department of Meta. There he worked as a motorcycle taxi driver in an attempt to raise money and escape to Venezuela, but his plans were thwarted by the authorities.
As the investigation into this heinous crime continues, Harold Echeverry is expected to appear before a judge soon to answer for his actions.
The community hopes that justice will be relentless with the alleged murderer and that justice will be done in memory of young Michel Dayana Gonzalez. It is time to raise our voices and demand justice and security for women in Colombia. Gender violence cannot continue to claim innocent lives, it is the responsibility of all of us as a society to take effective measures to prevent and combat these crimes.
With information from El País