Court Orders Reconstruction in Case of Student’s Fatal Fall in El Hierro

The case regarding the death of Lía Dorta Frías, who died in Valverde, El Hierro, in July 2022, has been reopened, marking a significant step in the search for accountability regarding public safety. According to the newspaper El Día, Judge Antonio Mazuecos of the Valverde Court has ordered a technical reconstruction of the events for June 11. This process aims to clarify how the university student fell more than five meters to her death.

Specialists from the Civil Guard’s Crime Scene Department will travel from Madrid to conduct a thorough forensic inspection. The reconstruction, which will be filmed and attended by all involved parties, will use a mannequin to simulate the fall and create 3D models of the scene. Investigators are looking into whether the area’s layout—a concrete ramp lacking railings or proper lighting—could have misled the victim, potentially causing her to mistake the drop-off for a continuation of the path.

The case was initially dismissed, but the victim's family successfully appealed the decision. Lía’s mother, Maite Frías, has long argued that the tragedy was preventable, citing a lack of warning signs and safety barriers. A key part of the family’s argument is that another person was seriously injured at the same spot months before the fatal incident, which they believe proves that the area was known to be dangerous.

This case highlights the broader issue of who is responsible for safety in high-risk public areas. The fact that the site was fenced off only after Lía’s death is seen by her family as an admission that the location was unsafe. With this new reconstruction, the court hopes to determine if the site’s design warrants a new look at potential criminal liability in a case that had previously been closed without anyone being held responsible.