One year ago, on January 9, 2025, the body of 54-year-old Yolanda Espinoza Gómez, known as ‘Ponchita’ or ‘La Bailadora’, was found in Alanje, Chiriquí. The body was discovered in a state of advanced decomposition in a rice field near the town’s school. Yolanda was last seen alive on the night of January 6, 2025, when she left the Jardín Los Mellos bar. The body was completely naked, with only a white striped sock on one foot, a scene that deeply shocked this small community.
The Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences has been unable to establish the cause of death, as the analyses did not show clear signs of external violence, such as wounds, fractures, or bullet impacts. Authorities have been unable to identify or link any suspects, partly because the condition of the body hampered the initial forensic examination.
Family members and friends have stated that Yolanda was the victim of an attempted assault weeks before her death, a complaint that residents claim was not addressed in a timely manner. The judicial file remains without charges or formal suspects, which has generated frustration and a strong sense of impunity among the local population.
Yesterday, January 9, 2026, the community remembered Yolanda with commemorative acts and a renewed demand for justice. According to its inhabitants, this day is intended to prevent a crime of this severity from being forgotten and left unpunished.
