The investigation continues; his family has not lost hope that he is alive. The uncertainty surrounding the disappearance of 25-year-old Esteban Danilo De León, who was last seen last Friday leaving his grandmother’s home in the La Morelo area of Tocumen, grew more concerning on Sunday when authorities confirmed the discovery of his vehicle, completely burned out, in the Malengue area of Pacora. The body was located wrapped in plastic. Community Says Farewell to Esteban De León and Demands Justice. Dozens of people organized a caravan in memory of the deceased Esteban De León, demanding that authorities ensure security in the region. According to the first official reports, no body was found inside the vehicle, which kept alive the hope that the young man may still be alive. “We have not lost our faith, we know Esteban will appear,” said one of his relatives during the operation. With tears, songs, and drumbeats, the community said goodbye to Esteban with their hearts broken, but united in a single cry: ‘We want justice and security before another family experiences this pain.’ Relatives of young Esteban Danilo De León, missing since last October 31, confirmed this Wednesday that the corpse located this morning in the backyard of a Catholic church in sector #3 of December 24 township is his. Authorities Discovered the Body of Esteban De León on Wednesday in the Las Paredes Sector of the 24 de Diciembre District. Family and friends arrived at the scene and identified the body. Esteban, who was wearing an orange sweater, black pants, and dark shoes on the day of his disappearance, was reported missing after leaving in his car from his grandmother’s house. Units of the National Police, the Fire Department, and the Department of Judicial Investigations (DIJ) remain at the scene with the young man’s family, who, through tears, watched as experts verified the chassis number, confirming that the grayish-black Forting car, with license plate E03025, indeed belonged to Esteban. The procession moved slowly to the vicinity of the Nuevo Progreso community, where family, friends, and neighbors sang tamborito songs, fulfilling Esteban’s wish, who in life said that when he died he wanted to have ‘the happiest funeral of his life’. ‘That void is not filled, and the pain is forever,’ expressed one of the attendees between sobs, while thanking the community for their support during the search days. The caravan was not only an act of farewell but also a protest. ‘The community was more efficient than the authorities in the search for Esteban,’ lamented another participant. The young man had been reported missing since October 31. It was learned that the body of the young man, already in a state of decomposition, was identified by several of his relatives who showed up at the scene through a tattoo that the young man had. ‘What is needed is security, for police to be visible, because the situation is ugly,’ said a neighbor, concerned about the increase in crime. From the early hours, residents of areas such as Las Paredes and December 24 also joined the call, demanding a greater police presence. Participants expressed their protest against rising crime. We live in fear. ‘We know that nothing we do will bring her son back to the professor.’
