Marta Lucía Hernández García: The First Victim of Femicide in Medellín in 2025
Marta Lucía Hernández García,a 39-year-old woman,was tragically murdered in her house in the El Socorro area of Medellín, marking the first case of femicide in the city in 2025. She had lived there for ten years with her partner and their 18-year-old son. The attack, a stab in the chest with scissors, was allegedly carried out by her romantic partner, Oswaldo de Jesús Machado Quiceno.
Marta was described by her sister, Rosa María Hernández García, as a “very enterprising woman, with many dreams, she was studying. In a short time, she was going to get her professional card.” rosa added, “We were destroyed. She was a very young woman, with too many dreams.”
The incident occurred on Monday, January 13, reportedly after Marta appealed to her husband over a sentimental matter. Their son was present during the attack. The family had moved to Medellín ten years ago, leaving their previous home in Santa Fe de Antioquia.
After the crime,Oswaldo fled but surrendered at a police station shortly afterward. However, he was released due to the absence of a flagrante delicto.Rosa María expressed her frustration, stating, ”at the moment, what the authorities are telling me is that we have to wait for a judge to issue an arrest warrant because he is free. But we must do justice to them, don’t let him escape. We need that justice as he destroyed our lives, he destroyed us.”
This tragic event highlights the ongoing issue of femicide, a term used to describe the killing of women because of their gender. According to a U.N. report, a woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes, often by an intimate partner or family member. In 2023 alone, there were an estimated 85,000 cases of femicide globally, as reported by U.N. Women.
Key Details of the Case
| Detail | Information |
|————————–|——————————-|
| Victim | Marta Lucía Hernández García |
| Age | 39 |
| Location | El Socorro, Medellín |
| Attack Method | Stab in the chest with scissors |
| Alleged Attacker | Oswaldo de Jesús Machado Quiceno |
| Date of Incident | January 13, 2025 |
The case of Marta Lucía Hernández García serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for justice and systemic change to protect women from such violence. As Rosa María pleaded, “Don’t let him escape. We need that justice.”
