Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

This woman has been found dead with a fractured skull in an underground septic tank which had been sealed with concrete.

Argentine national Gabriela Andrea Pedraza, 50, was found dead in the tank in the house she was renting in the neighbourhood of Santa Elena, in the town of Ballenita, in the western Ecuadorian province of Santa Elena.

She was reported missing on 3rd March but police had to wait until 11th March to enter her home because they did not have permits to do so.

Cops reportedly found her body in an underground septic tank, the cover of which had been sealed with concrete, as can be seen in the pictures.

Investigators reportedly found blood marks and fingerprints in her house which are being analysed whilst the victim had a fracture to her skull caused by a blow to the head, according to official sources.

Local media report there is evidence she had been beaten and dragged to the tank.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Two unnamed people have been called to give statements but they have not been arrested.

According to police Pedraza had entered Ecuador on 18th June 2019 and was living in the country illegally.

She had an appointment with the Foreign Relations department last Wednesday which she did not attend.

Her son David Lucena told local media that “she suddenly disappeared and we reported the disappearance to the embassy and to the federal police (in Argentina)”.

Maria Eugenia, her sister, said that “she was very spiritual and very entrepreneurial”.

The investigation is ongoing.

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