4-year-old missing for 9 days found dead in her own bed

What began as a desperate search for a missing little girl in Mexico ended with an unthinkable discovery — one that left investigators and the public in disbelief.

In March 2010, 4-year-old Paulette Gebara Farah disappeared from her family’s apartment in Huixquilucan, Mexico. The little girl, who had mobility and speech disabilities, was last seen when her mother, Lizette Farah, tucked her into bed after a weekend trip.

By morning, Paulette was gone. There were no signs of forced entry or struggle. Doors were locked, windows secure, and security cameras showed nothing unusual.

Her disappearance triggered a nationwide search. Police, volunteers, and neighbors combed through streets, parks, and forests. Posters and online campaigns spread quickly as her parents made emotional appeals on television, pleading for her safe return.

Growing suspicion

As days passed without answers, investigators began noticing inconsistencies in the parents’ testimonies. Both Lizette Farah and Mauricio Gebara, along with Paulette’s two nannies, were placed under restriction orders.

Then–Attorney General Alberto Bazbaz stated that each person involved had “falsified statements,” making it harder to uncover the truth. The family was temporarily moved to a hotel under police supervision while investigators returned to the apartment for a detailed reconstruction of the night Paulette vanished.

The chilling discovery

Nine days after she went missing, authorities made a discovery that shocked the country — Paulette’s body was found in her own bedroom, trapped between the mattress and the bed frame.

The same bed where her mother had sat for interviews begging for help had concealed her all along.

An autopsy later revealed that Paulette had died of asphyxiation caused by thoracic compression, and officials ruled her death accidental. According to investigators, she had slipped into a narrow gap at the foot of the bed while sleeping.

Despite this conclusion, many found it impossible to believe that a massive search involving police, sniffer dogs, and media crews could overlook the child’s body in her own room for more than a week.

Confusion and controversy

Adding to the public’s doubt, a leaked recording surfaced in which Lizette’s mother appeared to instruct her daughter not to reveal details about the case. Both later admitted to the conversation but denied it implied wrongdoing.

Authorities maintained that Paulette’s death was accidental, but public skepticism remained strong. Many questioned how investigators could have missed the child during their initial search.

In 2010, 4-year-old Paulette Gebara Farah went missing from her home in Mexico. For nine days, authorities and family searched everywhere for her. She was later found dead in her own bed, wedged between the mattress and the frame.
byu/malihafolter inmystery

Her nannies, Ericka and Martha Casimiro, publicly stated that they had searched the room several times and insisted the body was not there earlier. “Thousands of people came to look for her. It doesn’t make sense that her body could have been there since Monday,” one of them said.

The case sparked national outrage and criticism of how authorities handled the investigation. Political leaders called for accountability, questioning whether someone had been protected.

Paulette was laid to rest on April 6, 2010, in Mexico City. In 2017, her remains were exhumed and cremated after authorities declared the case closed.

To this day, many Mexicans still struggle to accept the official explanation — wondering how a little girl could vanish, only to be found in the very place where she was last seen.