Cali murder of pregnant María Camila Potosí sparks nationwide outcry

On 16 July 2026, 21‑year‑old María Camila Potosí, eight months pregnant, disappeared in Cali after leaving a prenatal appointment. Four days later her body was found bound, stabbed multiple times and abandoned on the banks of the River Meléndez near La Buitrera. Forensic examination revealed that the unborn baby was missing, prompting an urgent search for the neonate.

The Cali police, the Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación and the Fiscalía have opened a femicide investigation, focusing on a woman seen on security cameras riding a motorbike with the victim. The woman’s identity remains unknown, and authorities have offered a reward of up to 50 million pesos for information. The victim’s family, led by mother Alba Rubí Gómez, has repeatedly appealed for the baby’s whereabouts and for swift justice. The Defensoría del Pueblo has demanded immediate action to locate the newborn and to strengthen mechanisms against gender‑based violence.

Additional developments include an ex‑partner of a suspect claiming threats against his family, revelations that the victim and the motorbike driver were enrolled in the same municipal prenatal program, and nationwide protests demanding accountability. The case has intensified public debate over Colombia’s femicide crisis and the effectiveness of institutional responses.