Another 'disappeared' baby in La Línea?

LA LÍNEA/ALGECIRAS We first came upon these stories in February (What happened to these babies?). In today's online edition of EuropaSur, there is another harrowing story about the disappearance of a baby at La Línea Hospital, this one dating back to 1972. We have translated the story of María Rodríguez (photo by EuropaSur), whose one month old baby supposedly died after a car accident that involved herself, her husband and another four children, aged nine, seven, five, four and a baby of only a month. Although they were residents of Algeciras, the accident happened in San Roque so they were taken to the hospital in La Línea. Let María tell the story herself:>

"My husband and I were transferred to Algeciras a few hours after arriving in La Línea Hospital. We were told that the children, who were not seriously injured, would be moved later. As it didn't happen that day, my sister went to La Línea the next day to find out what had happened to them.

"She was told that the baby had died, and shown a baby that was so wrapped up in bandages you couldn't see its face. I wasn't told about until 14 days later. He was buried at the cemetery in Algeciras. I don't even know who paid for it.

"It was very hard because I had protected him in the accident; he had no wounds and was breathing okay. That day was his first month of life. My daughter has always asked if the baby had really died because it was her who handed him to the nurse and he was perfectly alright," says María emotionally even now.

The death certificate for the child, named José María, says that he died of a fracture at the cranial base and 'destruction of cerebral mass'.

Now comes the worst part of this story, if that were possible.

In 1992 María decided she wanted her baby son's body to join those of her parents, which means that it had to be exhumed. When the coffin was opened, they discovered that all it contained was a yellow blouse. "The sme one," says María, "that I had put on him that day. Nothing else. No bandages, no remains."

The accident report says that the whole family, except the father, were only slightly injured. The child's name, however, had been written in lightly and then scratched out with the word 'deceased'.

María and her daughter Paqui have checked the Historical Archive of La Línea where the hospital admissions for that year were filed. "We looked at the whole of 1972," says Paqui, "but there is nothing about any member of my family being admitted to the hospital that year."

Having heard about other families under similar circumstances, including one that came to light last month  at the Zamacola private clinic/residence in Cádiz, the family has contacted them and is willing to join forces in testifying for an investigation by the Prosecutor.

"Remembering it all is very difficult but all I want to know is if my son died or is still alive," says María.

(Original article in EuropaSur by Soraya Fernández)