The emergency department at Colonia Dora Hospital in Santiago del Estero received a 10‑year‑old girl with severe abdominal pain, and an obstetrician confirmed she was six months pregnant — a finding that shocked the local medical team.
The mother, Andrea, told doctors that the child had never begun menstruating, a detail that prompted an immediate investigation into possible sexual abuse.
Prosecutor Guillermo Farias ordered the arrest of Julio Vivas, the 33‑year‑old step‑father, after the girl identified him as the alleged perpetrator during questioning. Police detained Vivas at his rural property in El Bracho, seized his mobile phone, and began a forensic review of his communications.
Authorities, including the Women’s Police Station, are compiling evidence and recording statements to reconstruct the abuse timeline. The step‑father remains in custody while investigators analyze the seized device and interview witnesses.
The case has left the family in turmoil. Grandmother Norma Gómez, who once warned her daughter about trusting Vivas, expressed deep anguish and called for swift justice.
A schoolteacher, Lucrecia, noted that the girl had behaved normally at school, completing homework and maintaining a quiet demeanor, making the revelation all the more shocking.
The investigation continues as officials work to protect the child’s wellbeing and determine the full extent of the alleged assault.