Cell phone recording under the crack
True Crime 48 Hours

Cell phone recording under the crack

Apr 22, 2026
21:56
-(0)

About this episode

The judo hold that protected the Ecuadorian police: The femicide of María Belén Bernal A police lieutenant murders his wife inside the police academy where he was trained, leaves the body in the trunk of his truck, and reports himself as a victim. María Belén's cell phone records her final pleas as he strangles her with a judo hold. In this episode, we explore the contradictions that kept the homicide unpunished for weeks: the absence of drag injuries contradicts Cáceres's claim of acting alone, the body found without decomposition after ten days questions where the body really was, and messages from cadet Jocelyn Sánchez reveal prior knowledge of the crime. An investigation spanning 2,234 kilometers crosses three countries before his capture in Colombia. Victim: María Belén Bernal Date: September 11, 2022 Location: Police Academy, Quito, Ecuador Status: Investigation in preparatory hearing; femicide debate pending - The victim's cell phone recorded ten pleas for help until the final silence inside the lieutenant's room. - Cáceres declared to the prosecutor's office that María Belén got off on Avenida Simón Bolívar, but luminol in the truck and DNA completely contradict him. - The autopsy shows no injuries to the chest, abdomen, pelvis, or arms, indicating that at least two people carried the body, not one as he claims. - The body found without decomposition ten days later suggests burial shortly before September 21, not the night of the 11th, leaving a gap of days unexplained. María Belén Bernal, Quito Ecuador 2022, murder, judo hold, femicide, criminal lawyer, strangulation, criminal minds, investigation, institutional silence, Spanish true crime If you want to listen to this podcast without ads and have access to premium episodes, we invite you to try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and associated materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written authorization from OBOMEDIA. For permissions, licenses, and business inquiries, write to: business@obomedia.com . Tired of ads? Listen to this podcast and 200+ more ad-free on OBOMEDIA. Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime: https://obomedia.com/en/gratis?ref=desc-6981245 © 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

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