A young woman was burned alive by her ex-boyfriend, who is currently on the run, after a five-day struggle, announced the Minister of Women in Peru on Friday, condemning the slow progress of the investigations aimed at capturing him.
Katherine Gomez, 18 years old, was admitted to the emergency department of a hospital last Saturday with burns covering more than 60% of her body. According to the police, the perpetrator is a 19-year-old Venezuelan who fled after setting the victim on fire by dousing her with gasoline near the famous May 2 square in the capital.
The Minister of Women in Peru, Nancy Tolentino, stated, "She fought to survive, but unfortunately, the extent of the physical harm done to her did not allow the doctors to save her life, and we were informed of her death."
Tolentino criticized the delay in issuing an arrest warrant for the suspect until Thursday, five days after the crime. She said, "The police promised me they would do everything they could to apprehend him."
The Minister for Women and Vulnerable Populations urged women who end relationships with their partners not to agree to meet their ex-partner alone. The young woman had decided to end her relationship with the perpetrator days before the crime occurred.
