Cabo San Lucas teenager returns home safely after disappearance

Melany Valentina Castillo Bañaga, a 13-year-old girl reported missing since August 31, has returned home safely. Her disappearance had triggered significant unrest and traffic disruptions in Cabo San Lucas.

Prior to her return, family members and supporters organized protests and road blockades at major intersections, including the Transpeninsular highway and Constituyentes Boulevard, to demand action from authorities. These demonstrations caused severe traffic congestion and economic disruption in the city. The situation was further complicated by heavy rainfall, which led to flooding and caused several vehicles to become stuck or displaced in the Salto Seco arroyo.

During the search, the State Attorney General's Office (PGJE) had activated search protocols and deployed personnel to conduct field operations and intelligence work across the municipalities of La Paz and Los Cabos. Following the news of the teenager's safe return on Wednesday afternoon, protesters began to disperse, allowing traffic to gradually resume.