Forensic Experts Testify in Ongoing Trial Regarding Loan Peña's Disappearance

The federal trial concerning the disappearance of five-year-old Loan Danilo Peña continued this week in Corrientes, Argentina, with critical testimony from forensic experts. The proceedings, held at the Gendarmerie National Squadron 48, focused on technical evidence collected during the investigation into the child's whereabouts, who was last seen on June 13, 2024, during a family lunch in the rural area of Algarrobal.

Marilú Vásquez, a forensic odorology specialist from the Salta Police, testified before the Federal Oral Tribunal regarding a scent-tracking procedure conducted on June 21, 2024. According to Vásquez, trained canine units identified the child's scent inside a Ford Ranger and a Ford Ka, both of which are linked to defendants María Victoria Caillava and Carlos Guido Pérez. The expert stated that the methodology, which involves collecting human scent molecules on sterilized gauze, maintains a reliability rate exceeding 92%.

During her testimony, Vásquez explained that the dogs involved in the operation—Kala, Dina, and Arandú—provided positive indications when presented with samples taken from the vehicles. She clarified that while the dogs are capable of discriminating between individual human scents, the findings do not determine the specific condition of the child or the duration of his presence in the vehicles. A third vehicle, a Volkswagen Voyage, yielded negative results during the same testing process.

Tamara Muniagurria, a criminalistics expert from the Corrientes Police, corroborated these findings, confirming her presence during the collection and testing procedures. The tribunal, presided over by judges Eduardo Belforte, Fermín Ceroleni, and Simón Bracco, officially incorporated the video recordings of these forensic procedures into the case file, despite objections raised by the defense teams representing the accused.

The hearing was marked by moments of procedural tension. Early in the session, an attorney for one of the defendants requested that the prosecutor limit his public comments to the media, a motion that the tribunal ultimately rejected. Additionally, the presiding judge urged the prosecution to improve the efficiency of witness scheduling, noting that administrative delays were consuming significant time during the trial.

Other witnesses, including members of the Federal Police, provided context regarding the logistical and technical aspects of the investigation. These testimonies covered the extraction of data from mobile devices and the coordination of search efforts in the days following the disappearance. While the investigation has involved extensive search operations by various national security forces, the child remains missing.

The trial involves seventeen defendants, with seven facing primary charges related to the alleged abduction and concealment of the minor. Prosecutors maintain that the evidence points to the involvement of Caillava and Pérez in the removal of the child from the area. As the judicial process moves forward, the court is expected to continue hearing from additional experts and reviewing the evidence submitted to determine the circumstances surrounding the case.