Officials alleged that the body of a dead child discovered underwater inside a sports bag is certainly one of the girls who were abducted by their father, Tomas, on April 27. Investigators in Spain have verified that the corpse discovered in the sea off the coast of Tenerife on Thursday is likely that of Olivia Gimeno.
The body of the abducted six-year-old girl was discovered in a sports bag weighted down by an anchor more than 3,000 feet deep in the Atlantic Ocean, close to another empty sports bag.
Olivia’s sister Anna who was also kidnapped and allegedly murdered has yet to be found. On Friday, Spanish rescuers searched the seas off the coast of Tenerife for a one-year-old child.
Olivia and Anna’s divorced mother claimed their father, Tomas, threatened her she would never see them again. Following the disappearance of Tomas Gimeno and his two daughters, an inquiry was begun.
However, Beatriz Zimmerman, the mother of the two girls, has been informed of the discovery.
Police say her ex Tomas Antonio Gimeno, 37, disappeared with the girls on April 27 after failing to return them to their home in Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital.
A spokesman for Spanish police said: “The body was found by a robot from the search vessel Angeles Alvarino at midday [yesterday] around 1,000 metres below the water some three miles off the Tenerife coast.
“It was inside a sports bag attached to an anchor. Next to it was another empty sports bag.
“The body was taken to dry land for an autopsy. The vessel called Angeles Alvarino is continuing its search.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reacting to the tragedy tweeted: “I cannot begin to imagine the pain of the mother of little Anna and Olivia, who disappeared in Tenerife, following the terrible news we have just heard.
“I send a hug and my love and that of my whole family, who today show solidarity with Beatriz and her loved ones.”
Jose Manuel Bermudez, the mayor of Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, announced a minute’s silence for Anna and Olivia would be held at midday Friday, June 11.
He said: “There are no words to express the terrible desolation I feel.
“From respect at the mother’s pain and with all the caution the terrible news that is reaching us deserves, I want to express to the family all the solidarity of the citizens of Santa Cruz.”
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