Colombian father accused of decades-long incest, rape

[Amby 490]

(CNN) -- A central Colombian farm worker has been accused of raping his daughter for decades and fathering eight children with her.

The daughter, 35-year-old Alba Nidia, told CNN that her biological father has sexually abused her since she was about 5, shortly after her mother's death, resulting in 14 pregnancies. Eight children -- five girls and three boys -- survived.

Her father, Arcedio Alvarez Quintero, is being held in jail to face charges of sexual abuse, incest and aggravated sexual assault. Alvarez and his family live near the town of Mariquita in the western province of Tolima, and the local media have dubbed him a "monster."

The case has been likened to that of Josef Fritzl, the 73-year-old Austrian who was sentenced this month to life in prison for imprisoning and raping his daughter in his basement over 24 years, during which time she gave birth to seven children.

Alvarez's lawyer, Ricardo Correa, told CNN affiliate Caracol that his client appeared Saturday before a judge, who read the three charges. The judge ruled that the case against Alvarez was strong enough for him to be jailed with special protection as he awaits trial. No trial date has been scheduled.

Caracol reported that Alvarez entered "innocent" pleas to the charges.

Correa did not respond to CNN requests for an interview.

According to Caracol, the 59-year old Alavarez told the court he is innocent. Correa told Caracol that his client's defense "will be that Alba Nidia is not his biological daughter," but his adopted child.

Nidia insists that she is his daughter.

Authorities plan to conduct blood tests to determine the two's genetic relationship, local officials said.

"I feel confused -- knowing that he has been arrested, he is still my father," Nidia told CNN in a phone interview. "But I think it's the right thing to do."

She added that, "The children don't talk about this situation. They are silent much of the time."

Gilma Jimenez, a local councilwoman who has had close contact with Nidia, has offered her financial assistance and has been speaking out against child abuse.

"One of the tragedies of this whole story, is that it seems that many different people in the community knew about this situation, but no one said anything," Jimenez told CNN. "This is the indifference, the silence that encourages more child abuse."

Nidia said that "problems in the house" forced her to run away from the home she shared with her father nine months ago, taking her five daughters -- the youngest of whom was less than a year old -- and her 5-year-old son.

She moved to a nearby town and worked 15 hours a day at a restaurant.

"For this job, for all of those hours, she earns a miserable wage of under $3 a day," said Hugo Parra, an investigator with Jimenez's office. "We've been sending her money, just so she can survive."

If Alvarez is convicted, he could receive as little as eight years, Jimenez said.

"This is not enough. ... We have failed our children in Colombia," she said.

Jimenez added that Alvarez is receiving special protection in the jail, saying, "Criminals will tolerate any crime, except child abuse. I'm sure all the other prisoners are waiting to try to get to him."

This case comes as Colombia is weighing whether to change the constitution to punish convicted child abusers with up to life imprisonment. A campaign calling for a referendum on the issue says it has collected more than 2 million signatures.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/...rges/index.html

[Nagishkaw 510]

Just sick!

[Danno 1,228]

That one family could hide such a secret is believable.

The part that is worrisome to me is (according to the story) many in that area knew what was going on and nothing was ever said or done.

That one family could hide such a secret is believable.

The part that is worrisome to me is (according to the story) many in that area knew what was going on and nothing was ever said or done.

[trinket 30]

Sick and the fact that he is pleaing as innocent. Even if she isn't his biological daughter, still he is a pedo and is disgusting.

[Marina-Del 10]

I agree...it does not matter at all if she is his biological daughter or not. Maybe it is not technically incest, but in my opinion it should still be classified as the same thing if he acted as her father throughout her life. And as others have said, it is still rape and pedophilia.

How did this come out, I wonder? It says that many people knew (horrible!!) but it doesn't say how the authorities were alerted about it? Did the daughter finally decide to tell someone who would do something about it or what?

Like in the Austrian case that it is likened to, one of the children got sick and went to the hospital and that is where authorities decided that something wasn't right about the situation and found the rest of the them living in the basement. And also something I found a bit horrible about the Austrian court case, was that basically the only reason they were able to give that guy life was because he was charged with murder of one of the kids. But, if he had not been charged with murder and only with enslavement, incest, and rape, his sentence would have been a LOT shorter!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

#######, this is sick. Big time. Just like that other guy in Austria. #######, really.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Woody Allen?

[Marina-Del 10]

Woody Allen?

Yeah, he is sick too IMO. But there is a notable difference between Woody Allen and what this guy did (if he is in fact not her biological father), if I am remembering correctly. Wasn't the step daughter of Woody Allen over 10 when he became her step father (like 13 or something?)...and if this guy has been abusing her since she was 5, then he was her step father for quite a bit longer.

In my opinion, it doesn't matter and even if Woody became her "father" at age 13 that's still really sick!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Crazy.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

That's really sad

Saludos,

Caro