Truck Driver Detained in Disappearance Case of María Cash, Last Seen in 2011

Truck Driver Detained in María Cash Disappearance Case

Héctor Romero, a 71-year-old truck driver, has been detained as the main suspect in the disappearance of María Cash, a 29-year-old woman who has been missing since July 8, 2011, in Salta, Argentina. Romero arrived at the Federal Police office under guard and is now incommunicado. The judge, Mariela Giménez, ordered his detention, and he will receive notification of the charges against him on Wednesday.

Romero claims he picked up Cash at the Torzalito roundabout in General Güemes and took her to Difunta Correa, then continued toward Joaquín V. González. He is the last known person to have seen her alive. Since her disappearance, investigators have discovered numerous inconsistencies in his statements regarding the timing and details of the event. Initially, he did not cooperate with the investigation, identified later by a witness who saw María enter his vehicle.

In his five different testimonies, Romero provided varying accounts of where he left Cash. Investigators noted that the maneuvers he described as part of his account are practically impossible for the load he carried. Moreover, his description of María raised suspicion; he said he couldn’t remember her top clothing or facial features because her hair covered her face, despite security footage showing she had her hair tied up during her disappearance.

The federal investigation unit, led by prosecutor Eduardo Villalba, believes Romero is lying about the events. They assert that his shifting narratives have caused confusion and helped establish his alibi.

María Cash’s case has become one of the most puzzling in recent years. Federal authorities are investigating the possibility of her being a victim of human trafficking. The national Ministry of Security has offered a reward of five million pesos for credible information about her whereabouts. Her father, Federico Cash, actively sought his daughter until his tragic death in 2014.

As the investigation continues, the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind María’s disappearance.