In Asturias, the drama surrounding the disappearance of María Trinidad Suardíaz and her young daughter Beatriz has resurfaced. The two went missing in 1987 in the province of León. Decades after the tragedy, investigators have decided to revisit the case after discovering new leads in one of the region’s abandoned mines.
At the time of her disappearance, 27-year-old María Trinidad lived with her daughter in the small village of Matadeón de los Oteros. She was trying to start a new life after reporting domestic violence to the police, allegedly perpetrated by her husband, who was known locally as ‘the Portuguese.’ Although he maintained his innocence, suspicions of his involvement in the family’s disappearance have lingered for years.
Police recently turned their attention to an abandoned fluorite mine in the Berbes area (Ribadesella, Asturias). During an underwater search, divers found two cars at the bottom of a flooded quarry. Locals claim this was where the husband might have dumped vehicles connected to the disappearance of María Trinidad and her daughter. This discovery prompted authorities to reopen the investigation, even though the case had officially been closed due to the statute of limitations.
Judicial authorities and police are now coordinating efforts to recover the vehicles and search for possible remains. Military rescue teams or private companies specializing in draining reservoirs may join the operation. The entire procedure is overseen by the Gijón court, which authorized the search activities.
A brutal story left unanswered
María Trinidad’s life was overshadowed by constant abuse and threats from her husband, who had a criminal background. After a series of conflicts and beatings, she decided to leave him, but soon after, she and her young daughter disappeared. Since then, there has been no news of them, and their relatives, apart from her husband, did not live to see the present day.
Even though nearly forty years have passed, the Suardias family’s tragedy still haunts the local community. New searches at the mine offer hope that the truth about the fate of María Trinidad and Beatriz will finally come to light. Investigators do not rule out that the cars found may contain evidence capable of shedding light on the events of those years.
The story of the mother and child’s disappearance has become a symbol of the fight against domestic violence and impunity. Even decades later, police and the courts continue trying to restore justice and answer questions that torment not only the family, but the whole community.
