Rosario Teen’s Month-Long Disappearance Ends in Tragedy: Luna Zárate Identified After Fatal Hit-and-Run
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A month-long search for 13-year-old Luna Aylen Zárate of Rosario, Argentina, concluded with the heartbreaking confirmation of her death. Zárate died hours after being struck by a vehicle in the early morning of December 24th, and her body remained unidentified in the city morgue as a “NN” – an individual with no name – until recently.
The Initial Disappearance and Search Efforts
Luna Zárate was last seen leaving her home on Camino Viejo a Soldini at 3400 on the night of December 23rd. Her family, increasingly concerned by her absence, began sharing information on social networks and officially filed a missing person report on December 30th.
Investigators immediately launched a comprehensive search, interviewing family members and friends, conducting field investigations, and reviewing security camera footage in areas frequented by the teenager. Authorities also disseminated Luna’s image through the channels of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, hoping to generate leads. Despite these efforts, the search yielded no positive results.
The Tragic Accident and Initial Investigation
The investigation revealed that Luna Zárate died a few hours after she was last seen. According to official reports, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on December 24th, a 37-year-old man driving a Ford Focus struck the young woman. The driver remained at the scene and sought assistance from witnesses.
Luna was immediately transported to the Clemente Álvarez Emergency Hospital (Heca) in serious condition. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries – described as severe polytrauma – at approximately 5:50 a.m. The driver was initially detained, and a case was opened against him for manslaughter. He was subsequently released and placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Identification Challenges and Resolution
Following Luna’s death, her body was transferred to the Legal Medical Institute for an autopsy. However, the lack of identification documents and unsuccessful attempts to match her fingerprints and records resulted in her being registered as an unidentified individual.
The crucial breakthrough came more than a month after the accident, when the Public Prosecutor’s Office officially released a request for information regarding unidentified remains. This dissemination ultimately led to the connection between the unidentified body and the ongoing search for Luna Zárate.
The case underscores the challenges faced by authorities in identifying victims, particularly when documentation is absent or incomplete. It also highlights the importance of continued public awareness campaigns and the diligent work of law enforcement in bringing closure to families.
