Sheyla Cóndor's femicide: police negligence and a suspect with a dark history

The case of Sheyla Mayumi Cóndor Torres, a 26-year-old victim of femicide in Peru, has shocked the Inca country. The disappearance and subsequent discovery of her dismembered body reveal not only the horror of her murder, but also a worrying chain of negligence on the part of the authorities.

Sheyla disappeared on Wednesday, November 13 after leaving her house in Santa Anita, Lima, to go to the restaurant where she worked. She never arrived. Her family immediately went to the Santa Anita police station to report her disappearance, but the officers downplayed the case, saying that she was “of legal age” and “would surely return soon.” Faced with police inaction, Sheyla’s mother, Elsa Torres Vivanco, began her own search.

Two days later, a friend of Sheyla discovered WhatsApp messages on her computer with Darwin Condori Antezana, a non-commissioned officer of the Peruvian National Police (PNP), who had invited her to his house in Comas. The security cameras of the Las Praderas condominium showed Sheyla entering the place with the police officer and carrying a white dog. This would be the last visual record of the young woman.

Despite having this evidence, the Santa Luzmila police station — jurisdiction of Comas — also delayed the search, claiming insufficient evidence. It was not until Sunday, November 17 when a foul odor reported by neighbors led the authorities to Condori’s apartment. There, Elsa found her daughter's remains in a suitcase and in a package in the bathroom.

Darwin Condori, identified as the main suspect, had fled after being alerted by a call from an officer, which sparked strong criticism of the PNP for manipulating the case. This Tuesday, November 19, Condori was found dead in a hostel in San Juan de Lurigancho. However, his death has raised suspicions about a possible cover-up to avoid further investigations.

Condori had a history of complaints of sexual violence. In 2023, three women accused him of having drugged and abused them along with another police officer. Despite the seriousness of the accusations, he was only detained for two weeks before resuming his duties.

Sheyla's femicide sparked a wave of protests in Comas and other cities in the country. Feminist groups, citizens and relatives demanded justice and questioned the PNP for its inaction. "They didn't listen to me. "Maybe I would have found my daughter alive if they had listened to me from the start," Elsa Torres said through tears.

The Interior Ministry has banned honoring Condori and announced an internal review of PNP protocols.