Pregnant Teen Burned Alive in Paraguay: Boyfriend and Friend Arrested

A 17-year-old pregnant woman named María Fernanda Benítez was found dead, her body burned, in Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay, on May 27, 2025. Her family reported her missing five days earlier. Her boyfriend, Bernardo, and a friend, Micaela, have been arrested and charged with her murder. According to the police investigation, messages found on their phones revealed a plan to end María Fernanda's pregnancy. One message from Bernardo to Micaela asked for help in finding a place for a clandestine abortion. 'She really wanted to have the baby,' said the reporter in the Unitel video. 'Bernardo was the problem here.' The brutality of the crime has shocked Paraguay and sparked outrage over violence against women. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects await trial.