In a new bone-chilling episode, Crime Cases with the Sergeant relives one of the most terrifying crimes to occur in the United States in recent years: the murder of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, a young mother of Mexican origin, just 19 years old, brutally murdered in Chicago in April 2019. Here you can download the podcast.
The victim was nine months pregnant when she was lured through Facebook by a woman who, under the guise of a good Samaritan, concealed macabre intentions.
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Marlen Ochoa was contacted through a Facebook group for young moms.
Clarisa Figueroa, a 46-year-old woman, offered her baby clothes for her unborn child.
What appeared to be an act of generosity turned out to be a death trap.
On April 23, 2019, Marlen went to Clarissa Figueroa’s home in southwest Chicago, where she was strangled with a cable by Clarisa and her daughter, Desiree Figueroa, 24.
The most atrocious came later: the baby was extracted from her womb while she was still alive, in a desperate attempt by Clarisa to present herself as a mother after the death of her own child.
The baby, named Yovanny Jadiel Lopez, was taken to a hospital where Clarisa claimed to have given birth to him, which initially misled the medical staff.
A crucial forensic investigation
The episode details how the Chicago Police investigation, supported by forensic data, security cameras and key witnesses, succeeded in unmasking the lie.
Marlen’s body was found weeks later in a trash can at the Figueroa’s home, and the truth came to light thanks to a tireless public campaign led by the young woman’s family.
DNA tests confirmed that the baby was not Clarisa’s biological son, and was in fact the child of Marlen and her husband, Yovani Lopez.
Although the little boy survived for a while with medical help, he passed away in June 2019 due to brain injuries caused by lack of oxygen during the attack.
Justice and lessons for all
Clarisa Figueroa faced first-degree murder charges for both Marlen’s death and that of the baby.
Desiree was also charged and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution.
The case highlighted the real dangers that exist on social networks, especially for young and pregnant women who interact with strangers online.
This episode of Crime Cases with the Sergeant not only exposes the chilling facts, but also offers an important reflection on prevention, digital security and the role of immigrant families in seeking justice in the US.
A story that deserves to be heard
Buzzy
Six years after the crime, this episode pays tribute to Marlen’s memory and her family’s efforts to honor her life and protect other young women from falling into networks of manipulation and violence.
It is a case that shocked an entire country and continues to remind us that evil can hide even behind a smile or an online promise.
Casos del Crimen con El Sargento is a production of Nueva Network and QuéOnnda, who also produce other podcasts such as La Huella Ovni and Nueva Jugada, which are also available on all audio platforms.
