Tolima authorities Thursday captured a 62-year-old man who has
eight children with his adopted daughter. Ismael
Cardenas is accused of incest, local media reported.
The story began when Cardenas married Maria del Rosario Toro, the mother of then 12-year-old Dora Libya. After marrying the mother, Cardenas officially adopted the daughter.
According to neighbors, Cardenas soon began to court Dora Libya, went out with her and sent her love messages.
When Maria del Rosario Toro, the wife and mother, died, allegedly because of the depression and distress caused by the situation, Cardenas started to live with his stepdaughter.
At the age of 21, Dora Libya had her first child with Cardenas. Seven children followed who are now 15, 11, 9, 8, 5 and 2 years old. One child died.
The “family” lives very isolated in two rooms in a farm far from the village Raizal Fresno. None of the children goes to school.
The community of Raizal Fresno sent various anonymous letters to the local Ombudsman, who denounced the case to authorities that started the investigation against Cardenas.
On his capture, Cardenas said that his neighbors are only jealous and that is why they accused him. Dora Libya and her children think that the arrest of her father and “companion” is unfair.
It’s the second time this week an incest case of this magnitude is reported in Colombian media. On Tuesday, a man in the south of Colombia was arrested after he admitted having seven children of his daughter.