What happened
Pregnant 21-year-old Fernanda Maciel disappeared in 2018 from the Conchalí area of Santiago. Her remains were found more than a year later at a nearby property.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed surveillance, phone evidence and inconsistencies around a warehouse close to her home before identifying Felipe Rojas as the principal suspect.
What the courts or investigators concluded
Rojas was convicted of Maciel’s murder and received a life sentence.
Why the case remains significant
The long search and the proximity of the recovery site to places searched earlier generated criticism and renewed attention to procedures in missing-woman investigations.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.