Disturbing new details have emerged in the case of a Mexican woman who travelled to Peru to pursue a relationship with a medical student — who was later accused of organ harvesting after her remains washed up on a beach.
Blanca Arellano, 51, told her family in late July she was embarking on the long journey to Huacho, Peru, to meet Juan Pablo Jesús Villafuerte, 31, a medical student with whom she had a lengthy online relationship, the New York Post reported.
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On November 7, the lovestruck woman told her niece Karla Arellano the budding in-person romance was proceeding well, but then she suddenly stopped communicating with the family.
“I never thought I would be in this situation, but today I’m asking for your support to spread this post and find one of the most loved and important people of my life,” Karla tweeted on November 12.
“My aunt Blanca Olivia Arellano Gutiérrez disappeared on Monday November 07 in Peru. We fear for her life.”
Karla said she became alarmed when she reached out to Villafuerte, who claimed he and Ms Arellano had broken up and she was going back to Mexico.
“I decided to communicate with Juan P since he was the only contact she had in that country and that is where our fear was triggered,” niece Karla wrote.
Villafuerte reportedly claimed Ms Arellano decided to catch a flight back home after telling him he “couldn’t offer the life she wanted”.
On November 10, Peruvian authorities discovered a severed finger with a silver ring still attached that washed up on a local beach.
In the following days, a faceless head, an arm and a torso with all the internal organs apparently intentionally removed also washed ashore.
Ms Arellano’s devastated family matched the ring to their missing loved one.
On November 17, a warrant was issued for Villafuerte, who was arrested on charges of human organs trafficking.
It later emerged that shortly after Ms Arellano’s disappearance, the suspect had begun posting videos on TikTok allegedly showing him dissecting body parts, including a pancreas and a brain, according to local outlet El Popular.
During a search of Villafuerte’s home, police found evidence of blood in the bathroom, the laundry room and on his mattress, The Independent reported, citing El Pais.
“We have no words to express what we are experiencing,” Karla tweeted on Wednesday. “My aunt was a kind, warm person, full of light, intelligent, dedicated, loving and that is how she should be remembered.”
She added: “We believe in Peruvian laws and we fully trust the authorities to make it happen as they have done an impeccable job so far It’s time to raise your voice and ask for #JusticiaParaBlanca.”
This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission