Guatemalan court finds six former government officials guilty in the 2017 fatal fire at a state facility that claimed the lives of 41 young girls
Guatemalan Court Convicts Six Officials Over 2017 Shelter Fire
In a landmark ruling, a Guatemalan court has convicted six former officials for their roles in the 2017 fire at the Hogar Seguro “Virgen de la Asunción” facility in Guatemala City. The fire resulted in the tragic deaths of 41 girls and injuries to 15 others [1][2].
Among those convicted were former Social Welfare Secretary Carlos Rodas, who received a 25-year sentence, and former police officer Lucinda Marroquín, sentenced to 13 years for holding the key to the locked room where the fire occurred and failing to open it during the blaze [1][2].
The convictions were for offenses including manslaughter, mistreatment of minors, abuse of authority, and breach of duty. The fire was the culmination of a series of abuses, some of which had been reported to authorities but not acted upon [1].
Prior to the fire, a group of girls had escaped the night before, only to be returned and locked in a room without bathroom access, guarded by police, and given foam mattresses to sleep on [1]. The sleeping pills were among the reasons the girls had tried to escape the facility [1].
The Virgen de la Asuncion Safe Home, located 14 miles east of Guatemala City, had approximately 700 residents, exceeding its maximum capacity of 500 [1]. The majority of the residents had committed no crime and were sent to the facility due to various reasons, including running away, abuse, or being migrants [1].
Judge Ingrid Cifuentes, who presided over the case, stated that the fire was the result of negligence and abuse of authority [1]. She also ordered an investigation into former President Jimmy Morales for his possible role related to the security deployments at the shelter [1].
Emily del Cid Linares, a survivor of the fire who suffered burns, expressed satisfaction with the verdict [1]. Autopsies confirmed the presence of drugs in some of the girls, which supported their complaints that they were given sleeping pills [1].
Investigators used phone records to establish that Marroquíní was talking on her phone and responded with profanity when told about the fire, saying "let them burn." [1]
Prosecutors had requested sentences of up to 131 years for some of the suspects [1]. The six officials had pleaded not guilty but were found responsible by Judge Cifuentes [1].
References: [1] Associated Press. (2021, February 17). Guatemalan judge convicts 6 over 2017 fire at youth shelter. AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/guatemala-central-america-americas-human-rights-crime-9215e0e418b1444a4e135f09746e2552 [2] Reuters. (2021, February 17). Guatemala convicts six over 2017 fire at state-run youth shelter. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/guatemala-convicts-six-over-2017-fire-state-run-youth-shelter-2021-02-17/
