Two 22‑year‑olds found dead in Puerto López, Ecuador after disappearance

Ecuadorian police confirmed that the bodies of Josué Dayan Sarmiento and Anthony José Peñafiel, both 22, were discovered on 5 August 2026 near the Manglaralto parish on the E15 “Ruta del Spondylus” at the border of Santa Elena and Manabí provinces. The young men had been reported missing on 2 August after traveling from Quito to the coastal town of Puerto López. Autopsies indicated they died from gunshot wounds. Authorities say a third companion escaped after the victims were intercepted by armed assailants. The case is being investigated by the local police and forensic teams, with officials noting a rise in disappearances and violent crime linked to rival criminal groups operating in the area.

The investigation follows a broader pattern of insecurity in Ecuador, where police reported over 4,800 disappearance complaints in 2026, claiming an 81 % resolution rate. Families of the victims have received the bodies at the Santa Elena forensic center and are mourning the loss while the police continue to gather evidence and identify possible gang involvement.