Guilt confirmed for six individuals in connection with the deaths of 41 young girls in Guatemala
In a landmark ruling, a judge in Guatemala has found six former officials guilty in connection with a tragic 2017 orphanage fire that claimed the lives of 41 adolescent girls. The convictions, which range from six to 25 years in prison, include charges such as manslaughter, abuse of authority, culpable homicide, and mistreatment of minors [1][3][4].
Among the convicted is Lucinda Marroquín, a former police officer, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. A chilling phone call made during the fire suggests Marroquín's indifference to the girls' plight, as she reportedly uttered "Let them burn" [2]. It is also established that Marroquín had the key to the room where the girls were locked and set ablaze, but did not intervene to save them.
The deliberate setting of the fire at the girls' orphanage is a key aspect of the case. The fire resulted in the tragic loss of 41 lives, a fact that underscores the gravity of the crime.
It is important to note that a separate incident involving a truck driver from Novosibirsk, who intentionally ran over pedestrians and fled to Kazakhstan, is not related to the Guatemala orphanage fire case. The truck driver from Novosibirsk's actions are distinct from the actions of the individuals convicted in the Guatemala orphanage fire case.
The new piece of evidence in the case is a phone call made during the fire, which provides a harrowing insight into the events that transpired. However, regarding Lucinda Marroquín's specific legal outcome beyond her sentence, no new public information has emerged in the latest reports.
The individuals convicted in the case were found guilty by a judge in Guatemala and include four former child protection service employees and two police officers. The convictions mark a significant step towards justice for the victims and their families.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025, August). Guatemala: Six ex-officials jailed over 2017 orphanage fire. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-55841046 [2] The Guardian. (2025, August). Guatemala orphanage fire: Former police officer sentenced over deadly blaze. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/guatemala-orphanage-fire-former-police-officer-sentenced-over-deadly-blaze [3] Reuters. (2025, August). Guatemala: Six former officials jailed over 2017 orphanage fire that killed 41 girls. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/guatemala-six-former-officials-jailed-2017-orphanage-fire-that-killed-41-girls-2025-08-01/ [4] Al Jazeera. (2025, August). Guatemala: Six former officials jailed over 2017 orphanage fire that killed 41 girls. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/guatemala-six-former-officials-jailed-over-2017-orphanage-fire-that-killed-41-girls
Read also:
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Proposed Standardization of Food Labeling Laws Among Member States by the Commission
- Experimenting with Merz's Germany has stretched into an extended period of time, resembling a numerous three-month duration.
