Venezuelan mother dies 10 days after state confirms missing son died in custody
Carmen Navas, an 82-year-old mother from Venezuela, has died just ten days after the government confirmed that her son, Victor Quero, died in state custody. Navas had spent nearly a year searching for her son, who was reported to have died of respiratory failure in a notorious prison. Her death has drawn attention to the plight of families searching for missing loved ones in Venezuela.
- ▪Carmen Navas was 82 years old at the time of her death.
- ▪Her son, Victor Quero, died in state custody last July.
- ▪Navas became a prominent figure advocating for information about her son.
- ▪Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado praised Navas for her courage.
- ▪The Venezuelan government has denied holding political prisoners despite widespread claims.
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Venezuelan mother dies 10 days after state confirms missing son died in custodySign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 18, 2026, 09:08 AMUpdated May 18, 2026, 09:08 AMMay 17 - Carmen Navas, the 82-year-old mother who spent nearly a year searching for her detained son in Venezuela, has died just 10 days after the government confirmed he had died in state custody, the NGO that handled his case reported.Navas became a prominent figure in Venezuela while publicly pleading for information on her 50-year-old son, Victor Quero.
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