New Lead in Malén Ortiz Case: Investigations on Mallorca Continue

Investigations in an Old Case: Renewed Activity in Son Ferrer

The case of 15-year-old Malén Ortiz, who disappeared on December 2, 2013 in Son Ferrer, is back in the headlines. In recent weeks, the Guardia Civil has examined several leads, including a property between Magaluf and Son Ferrer — the area where the girl was last seen. I was recently at the roundabout near Santa Ponça; people there speak softly about it, as if it were an open chapter that no one can quite finish reading.

What is new — and what has long been known

According to investigators, there were new clues in a current procedure pointing to possible suspects. A young man who was questioned last year initially claimed to know Malén's whereabouts. Later he admitted that he had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs and that parts of his statements were not truthful. At the same time, officers are examining whether there is a financial connection between the accused and two other suspects.

Not only is the time span unusual — more than a decade — but also the amount of material: thousands of documents have been collected, hundreds of vehicles checked, wiretaps and searches conducted. The investigators say they are currently following several hypotheses and focusing on certain areas, without publicizing details. A judge has ordered strict secrecy to avoid jeopardizing the work.

False leads and the weight of memory

In the past, the case has repeatedly been burdened by misinformation. There was, for example, a caller who claimed Malén was in a well on a golf course — apparently out of greed for the announced reward. Such tips cost time and nerves. The mother, Natalia Rodríguez, has been organizing vigils for years; on December 2 the community remembers the girl with candles and photos. It is not noise, but a collective memory that rises again every year.

Why the search goes on

The investigators do not categorically rule out violent wrongdoing, but they also say that witness statements indicate Malén voluntarily got into a vehicle. Where she was taken and what happened afterward remains open. The latest activities — searching a site in Sa Porrassa, the emergence of new testimonies — show that the case remains a priority for the authorities.

For many here on the island, this is not an abstract crime, but an open chapter in daily life: shopping in Cala Vinyes, at the bakery on the main street, sipping coffee at the gas station where the last image is from. The questions remain. And as long as no one provides answers, they will continue to be asked — softly, persistently and tireless.

Important: The investigations are ongoing. Details are being withheld for investigative reasons.