An autopsy carried out on Mari Luz Cortes, the five year old girl from the El torrejón district of Heulva whose body was found in the estuary on March 8th, concludes that she died of asphyxiation before entering the water.
The time of death is given as being between five minutes and forty-eight hours after her disappearance, although this could be narrowed down after further forensic tests are carried out. The body shows no signs of beatings or sexual abuse although she had suffered a blow to the head and a fractured rib. These injuries, however, were not fatal.
Police are following up on new evidence in the case and are trying to determine exactly where Mari Luz was thrown into the water.
Mari Luz Cortes disappeared on January 13th 2008 after going to a local kiosk in El Torrejón to buy sweets. Her parents have always maintained that she was abducted.