The 52-year-old woman was rescued by police and she was taken to the hospital. However, she died at the hospital due to breathing problems caused by throat swelling after the ants bit her windpipe.
The victim’s son and daughter were bound to a tree by a group of angry vigilantes who accused them of trying to steal a car. The mother went to help them, but she was given the same punishment. Local reports said the three were also burned and beaten. The sister and the brother survived the ordeal, but they are still recovering from their injuries.
A local radio station published a photo of two of the victims. They were shown blindfolded and bound to the tree, while villagers looked on. The incident happened on New Year’s Eve in Caranavi, Bolivia, about 100 miles northeast of the capital La Paz.
Palo Santo is the tree they were tied to. Palo Santo translates to “holy wood” and it attracts Brazilian fire ants that bite. Gunter Agudo, the police chief, said they managed to rescue the three, but the 52-year-old was in a bad way and was brought to the hospital.
Authorities said the woman and her two children, aged 22 and 28, went to the area to collect a debt. Agudo said initially police were investigating the incident as a probe into an attempted car theft, but now the investigation has been changed to murder and serious assault investigation.
There are several suspects authorities are taking a look at, but only one person has been arrested. The unnamed person was arrested on January 1 and they still remain in jail.
