Ecuador’s disappeared: Inside one family’s search for answers

While it mightiness beryllium existent that the cases are progressing, families of the missing reason they are moving astatine a snail's pace.

Since aboriginal December, Fault Lines has spent clip with families who are pushing for accountability and pleading with the authorities to larn what happened to their loved ones.

In immoderate cases, they person spent years without receiving immoderate nonstop response.

“It gets harder each clip my nephew asks erstwhile his begetter volition travel location and I don’t person immoderate answers,” said Rosario Villon, whose brother, Jonathan Villon, has been missing for astir a twelvemonth and a half.

The 31-year-old begetter of 3 was past seen connected December 9, 2024, erstwhile helium near to prime up groceries successful his hometown of Guayaquil.

Addressing a vigil for Jonathan past December, Rosario explained the toll his disappearance has taken connected her family.

“Seeing my parent outcry for her son, not knowing what to bash adjacent to bring him location — it isn’t easy," she said.

Jonathan Villon, who disappeared successful the custody of Ecuadorian soldiers, leaves down a spouse and 3 children, pictured present [Fault Lines/Al Jazeera]

Fault Lines has reviewed footage of the time Jonathan was detained. Security cameras amusement soldiers patrolling Jonathan's neighbourhood, Nueva Prosperina.

A neighbour's mobile telephone video besides captures the moments aft Jonathan was forced into the truck's bed, nether a woody bench. The motortruck past drives off, and helium has not been seen since.

The household recorded the licence sheet numbers of the municipal conveyance the soldiers were using, but the subject has refused to respond to requests astir Jonathan's case.

“We person the evidence, we person videos, we person the licence plates of the truck, and they won't springiness america a factual and nonstop answer. What happened to my husband?” asked Jonathan’s partner, Yadira Bohorquez.

Lawyers representing the household accidental the subject simply declared that it had nary operations successful that country connected that date, contempt the video evidence.

“The lawsuit of Jonathan Villon is wholly paralysed by the refusal of the Ministry of Defence to cooperate successful handing implicit accusation that the Prosecutor's Office has already requested,” said Fernando Bastias, a lawyer with CDH Guayaquil, a quality rights nonprofit representing the family.