After more than 18 hours of final arguments, the Tribunal of Enjuiciamiento at the Centro de Justicia Penal de la 11 Sur declared José María Sosa guilty of the disappearance of Paulina Camargo Limón, which occurred on August 25, 2015. At that time, Paulina was 19 years old and four months pregnant.

This verdict marks a significant moment of justice for the Camargo Limón family, who have spent almost 11 years searching tirelessly for Paulina’s whereabouts and demanding accountability for the responsible party.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 17 at 1 p.m., when the court will determine Sosa’s prison term and the comprehensive reparation of damages.

Upon leaving the courthouse, Rocío Limón, Paulina’s mother, expressed gratitude to the family and friends who maintained a vigil outside the justice center throughout the trial. “What he did, what he did to Paulina, was wrong; and the baby was his son. Thank you all for being here,” she said.

A decade-long legal battle

The family’s pursuit of justice has been marked by years of legal challenges and shifts in investigative strategy. Initially, the State Prosecutor’s Office charged José María Sosa, Paulina’s former partner, with intentional homicide and abortion. He was convicted in February 2019, and that sentence was upheld in 2022 based on testimonial evidence, video recordings, and a confession from Sosa admitting to assaulting Paulina and disposing of her body.

However, in April 2024, a federal court annulled the conviction due to the absence of a body, as Paulina’s remains have never been found.

Meanwhile, since 2017, the family pursued a new criminal case under the General Law on Forced Disappearance of Persons and Disappearance Committed by Private Parties. Appeals and injunctions delayed the oral trial until February 2026. Over nearly six months, Paulina’s parents and relatives faced Sosa again in court, providing testimony.

With the ruling issued this Tuesday, the tribunal recognized Sosa’s criminal responsibility for Paulina’s disappearance, a crucial step forward for the family’s quest for justice.

The story behind the case

Paulina met José María Sosa in 2013. What began as a friendship evolved into a romantic relationship that was never accepted by Rocío Limón, who distrusted him from the start.

In May 2015, Paulina discovered she was pregnant. Sosa initially reacted negatively, leaving the state temporarily to “think things over.” Two months later, he reestablished contact, claiming he was ready to discuss their relationship and the pregnancy.

On August 25, 2015, Paulina attended a gynecological appointment in a clinic in the Jardines de San Manuel neighborhood to learn the sex of her baby. After the appointment, which she attended with her parents and Sosa, he asked to speak privately. Though hesitant at first, Paulina agreed to meet him at a café in Plaza del Sol.

According to the investigation, Sosa convinced her to go to his apartment in the Unidad Habitacional La Margarita. Surveillance cameras recorded them getting into a taxi together, a fact confirmed by the driver during the investigation and trial.

Since that day, the family lost all contact with Paulina.

Initially, the family believed Sosa’s version that Paulina left alone in a taxi from Plaza del Sol. But as the investigation progressed, inconsistencies in his statements led to charges against him.

While Paulina Camargo remains missing, the court’s decision affirms Sosa’s responsibility in her disappearance. The next step is sentencing and finalizing the ruling.

This case highlights the challenges families face in seeking justice amid Mexico’s ongoing struggles with disappearances, and underscores the importance of persistent legal action and community support in demanding accountability.