Authorities in Peru are investigating a highly unusual case involving a man who referred to an ancient mummy as his spiritual girlfriend.
In February 2023, police in the city of Puno detained Julio Cesar Bermejo after finding him drunk in a local park and carrying a large thermal delivery bag. When officers asked him to open the bag, they discovered a mummified human body inside.
Bermejo told officers that the mummy was his spiritual girlfriend, whom he called “Juanita.” He claimed to have been in a relationship with the mummy for 30 years and brought it with him that day because his friends wanted to see her.
During questioning, Bermejo described the mummy in deeply personal terms, stating, “It sleeps in my bedroom, with me. There’s my bed, the TV set and next to it, there’s Juanita. I take care of it.”
Authorities turned the remains over to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, which conducted an examination and determined that the mummy was actually a male, not female, and likely around 600 to 800 years old. The person, identified as a man who died at approximately 45 years old, was buried in a fetal position — a common practice in pre-Columbian Peru.
Despite Bermejo’s insistence on the emotional bond he shared with the mummy, the remains are now under government protection due to laws regulating national heritage. It is currently unclear what charges, if any, Bermejo may face.
While no foul play is suspected, the bizarre case of Bermejo and his spiritual girlfriend has highlighted larger concerns about the illegal possession and trafficking of historical artifacts in Peru — a country rich in ancient Incan heritage.
Officials continue to investigate how the mummy came into Bermejo’s home in the first place. According to him, his father brought the remains home decades ago when Bermejo was just a child, and over time, he formed what he believed to be a genuine emotional relationship with his so-called spiritual girlfriend.
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