Police search for missing mother and baby in Barcelona

Authorities are looking for 23-year-old María Paula and her 23-month-old son, missing since February 12.

Generic image of police emergency lights in a nighttime urban setting.
IA

Generic image of police emergency lights in a nighttime urban setting.

The Mossos d'Esquadra police force is actively searching for María Paula, 23, and her 23-month-old son, who disappeared in Barcelona on February 12.

Investigators believe the mother left a social services residence voluntarily due to fears regarding the custody of her child. However, the case is being treated with high priority because of the woman's mental health issues and the child's extreme vulnerability.

"She loves her son very much."

Diana · Mother of the missing woman
Communication with the family ceased on February 16. A formal report was filed at the Eixample district police station on February 18. The woman, originally from Colombia, had been living in Spain since March 2025 in an irregular administrative situation.
The organization SOSDesaparecidos has called for public cooperation to help locate the pair, emphasizing that the mother's health condition adds complexity to the search.