In 2010, four-year-old Paulette Gebara Farah vanished from her family’s apartment in Huixquilucan, Mexico, sparking a nationwide search. She had returned home on March 21 with her father and sister after a weekend trip. Her mother, Lizette Farah, tucked her into bed that night, but by morning, Paulette was gone.

The family’s nanny discovered the empty bed and immediately alerted the parents. There were no signs of forced entry—doors and windows were locked, and security cameras showed nothing suspicious. Since Paulette had mobility and speech disabilities, it seemed impossible she had left on her own.

Authorities launched an extensive search involving police, volunteers, and social media. Posters and billboards appeared across Mexico, and Paulette’s parents made emotional television pleas for her return.

After a week with no progress, investigators noted inconsistencies in statements from both parents and the two nannies. All four were placed under supervision while police revisited the apartment to reconstruct events.

Nine days after her disappearance, Paulette’s body was found in her own bed, wedged between the mattress and frame—a spot previously overlooked. Shockingly, this was the same bed where her mother had given interviews.

Officials quickly ruled the death an accident, citing “mechanical asphyxia” from nasal obstruction and chest compression. The autopsy found no evidence of abuse or poisoning, concluding that Paulette had suffocated after slipping into the gap.

The public, however, remained unconvinced. A leaked recording of Lizette Farah and her mother fueled suspicions, and critics questioned how multiple searches—some with sniffer dogs—had missed the body.

Paulette was buried on April 6, 2010, and her remains were later cremated in 2017. Despite the official finding of accidental death, the case continues to haunt Mexico, leaving enduring doubts about what truly happened in that small bedroom.