Canarian Weekly newspaper - distributed across Tenerife to 1000's of residents & tourists every week

Silence for Silencio Victim - 10.08.2007
The centre of the village of El Fraile filled with the family and friends of Fernanda Fabiola Urzua the fifteen year old from Ten Bel Costa del Silencio who was kidnapped and murdered as she walked along the Camino Virgilio between El Fraile and Costa del Silencio on July 26th as a sign of respect for the youngsters. A minute of silence was held in the local town halls and the island Cabildo and news of the tragedy even reached the mainland where various television programmes have dedicated time to cover the story. Police would never have found the body if the public had not reported the fact that the a blue Dodge had been spotted leaving the area where Fernanda had gone missing at top speed giving information on the registration plates and the authorities began to search for the vehicle. The search ended in El Fraile where the vehicle was found, parked in the street as if nothing had happened and police obtained permission to search the vehicle. Inside and after several hours of searching a couple of items belonging to Fernanda were found and police homed in on the owner as the prime suspect of the crime. Hector Fabio Franco a 28 year old Columbian calmly indicated the location of the body to police with no signs of regretting his action telling of how he had observed the girl as she walked along the dirt track and unable to control his urge quickly got into his 4X4 and followed her. Although Franco did not give details it is thought that the Columbian killed Fernanda by hitting her on the head with a heavy object. The 28 year old Columbian was charged with the kidnap, sexual aggression and murder of the teenager, although the autopsy later confirmed that she had not been sexually attacked. Franco's previous record for sexual offences is based on an attack on a tourist in Los Cristianos in 2002, which was reported to police, but as often happens, was not brought to court as the victim returned to her country. According to Spanish Press, Fernanda was killed shortly after she disappeared. It's clear that the teenager put up some resistance and that she died from a blow to the head with a rock. Franco was remanded in custody after appearing in court in Arona. The family of Fernanda is understandably affected by the tragedy and many are calling for the camino to be either closed off to the public or for streetlights to be installed to increase the security of those using the path. Any links between the kidnap of Fernanda and Sara Morales and Yeremi Vargas in Gran Canaria have been ruled out.