Melissa Elizabeth Sánchez, 22, died on Saturday morning in Babahoyo after intervening to defend her sister from an alleged sexual assault inside a home. The attack took place in the Virgilio Zúñiga neighborhood after the two sisters had been drinking alcohol with Sánchez's partner during the early morning.
According to initial reports, the partner allegedly attempted to sexually abuse the sister while she was asleep. Sánchez woke up to her sister's cries for help and confronted her partner to stop the assault. During the struggle, the suspect allegedly used a sharp weapon to attack Sánchez, causing a fatal wound to her neck.
The sister was also severely injured and urgently transferred to the Martín Icaza Hospital in Babahoyo, where she remains under medical care. Sánchez was the mother of two minor children who were inside the house at the time of the violent event.
Police search for suspect
The suspect fled the scene, and police launched search operations to locate him. Investigators from the Criminalistics Unit and the National Directorate of Crimes Against Life, Violent Deaths, Disappearances, Extortion and Kidnapping arrived at the home to collect evidence. The killing caused dismay among relatives and neighborhood residents as authorities continue their investigation.
