January 29, 2026

Autopsy of Stephora Joseph Confirms Violent Death by Drowning

December 17, 2025

The official report from the National Institute of Forensic Sciences concludes that the eleven-year-old girl died of “mechanical asphyxia by drowning.” The document, registered under number 552-2025, qualifies the death as “violent,” removing any ambiguity about the nature of the tragedy.

According to information released in Santiago, the medical examiners determined that the child quickly lacked oxygen, leading to fatal respiratory failure. Experts note, however, that the exact time of death could not be determined, leaving an important gap in the timeline.

The prosecutor’s office estimates that the events began at around 9:44 a.m., while the body was not found until 2:05 p.m. This several-hour interval remains central to outstanding questions in the investigation.

Analyses suggest the victim remained about thirty minutes at the bottom of the pool before resurfacing, unnoticed in time. It was ultimately a student who spotted the inert body and alerted the supervisors, but “the child was already dead when she was taken out of the water.”

These technical findings reinforce the involuntary homicide charges against four members of the school’s staff. The prosecutor views the forensic report as strong scientific support, while the court will decide on criminal responsibility in the case.

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