Femicide in Peru: burned alive on the public highway, the assassin on the run

DAY

The Minister for Women of Peru announced on Friday the death, after five days of agony, of a young woman burned alive on the public highway by her ex-boyfriend on the run and she denounced the slowness of the investigations to find him. 

Katherine Gomez, 18, was rushed to hospital on Saturday with burns over more than 60% of her body. “She fought to survive, but unfortunately the extent of the physical damage did not allow the doctors to save her life and we have been informed of her death,” Minister Nancy Tolentino announced on television. RPP.

Ofrecen 50 mil soles por hombre que mó viva a Katherine Gómez cerca de Plaza Dos de Mayo https://t.co/kXnAN9GyxE

— Diario Perú21 (@peru21noticias) March 24, 2023

According to the police, the author of this feminicide is a 19-year-old Venezuelan, who fled after having doused Katherine Gomez with gasoline before setting her on fire, near the Place du 2 mai, one of the emblematic places of the capital.

The young woman had decided a few days earlier to put an end to their relationship.

Mrs. Tolentino deplored that an arrest warrant to find the suspect was issued only Thursday, five days after the fatal attack. “The police promised me that they would do everything they can to find him,” she added.

Sergio Tarache Parra is included in the Programa de Recompensas del #Mininter. muerte.
Se ofrece S/50 000 por su captura.
Llama al 0800 40 007 si conoces su paradero. pic.twitter.com/85SgYtwSS2

— Ministerio del Interior 🇵🇪 (@MininterPeru) March 24, 2023

The Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations urged women “in cases of rupture”, not to not agree to meet their ex-partner alone. “Don't go alone to a meeting when you want to break up with a violent person, don't believe them when they tell you 'let's talk, I'll explain to you'”.

Peru (33 million inhabitants) recorded 136 feminicides in 2022, compared to 146 in 2021 and 138 in 2020, according to official data.

For comparison, in France (67 million inhabitants), the number of feminicides reached 122 in 2021.