This Colombian woman who was kidnapped and held hostage for 47 days penned a series of romantic letters to one of her alleged kidnappers – speaking of a ‘special love’ between the pair.
The woman, identified as Mayerly Santos, was released on 21st July in the northern Colombian department of Santander after 47 days in captivity.
In an apparent case of ‘Stockholm syndrome’, a condition which causes hostages to develop a psychological or emotional bond with their captors, Santos thanked her kidnappers to reporters and wrote of a “special love” with one of them in letters found at the property.
According to reports, when police entered the house where she had been kept for several days, they found letters written by Santos to her abductor.
She also told local media upon her release: “I want to thank the people who took care of me, I cannot say that they mistreated me or were violent in any way. On the contrary, they were very kind to me.”
A 39-year-old suspect identified as Ricardo Tarazona Martinez has been arrested for his involvement in the alleged kidnapping in the city of Bucaramanga on 28th May.
He is believed to be a member of the criminal organisation the National Liberation Army (ELN) and he is the only arrest so far, according to reports.
The suspect and his accomplices allegedly demanded 9,000 million COP (2.3 million GBP) from the victim’s husband, a farmer named Joaquin Perez Tafur.
General Manuel Vasquez, commander of the Metropolitan Police of Bucaramang, confirmed that the letters are being used as evidence in the investigation.
He said: “We need to be careful as sentimental relationships have occurred in cases like this before out of fear and self-protection.”
In one of the letters, the victim wrote: “I can forgive the fact that you kidnapped me, even though I am here against my will.
“Love, I never imagined that from these tears arose such a great and special love as this.”
According to local media, the victim is undergoing therapy to help her overcome the psychological effects of the kidnapping as the investigation continues.
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Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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