In the heart of Monterrey, in 2006, an unexpected discovery unearthed a mystery that had remained hidden for seven years. Roberto Elisalde, a 34-year-old waiter who had worked at the Hotel Ambasador for three years, became the unwitting protagonist of a story that still intrigues many. While excavators were clearing earth for the construction of a new wing of the hotel, Roberto found something that would change the course of an investigation: a partially decomposed brown leather wallet buried under rubble in the back garden. “Boss, I found something strange here,” he exclaimed to the foreman, carefully holding the object.

Upon opening the wallet, Roberto discovered a student ID from the University of Monterrey in the name of Valeria Herrera Montenegro, a young woman born on August 15, 1980. The photograph showed a woman with long black hair and green eyes, smiling with a vitality that contrasted sharply with the wallet’s worn condition. There were also credit cards, 1,000 pesos in old bills, and a receipt from the Hotel Ambasador, dated November 12, 1999, indicating her attendance at a charity gala for the Fundación Esperanza. “This date is seven years old,” Roberto told the foreman, with a feeling of unease that led him to insist: “Boss, I think we should call the police.”

Detective Miguel Sandoval, a 45-year veteran with more than two decades of experience in missing persons cases, arrived at the hotel an hour later. “Who found this?” he asked authoritatively. “Me, sir, Roberto Elisalde,” the waiter replied, pointing to the exact spot where he had found it. Sandoval meticulously examined the wallet, taking photographs of the evidence and the scene. The ID and receipt pointed to a specific event: the 1999 charity gala, a high-society affair attended by prominent figures from Monterrey. But why was Valeria’s wallet buried in the hotel garden?

Sandoval went to the office of the hotel manager, Arturo Méndez, a 50-year-old man who seemed uneasy under the detective’s questions. “I need to review your records from November 1999,” Sandoval requested. Méndez, in a nervous tone, explained that the files were in the basement, but assured everyone that the Fundación Esperanza gala had been a flawless event. “Many important figures from Monterrey attended,” he commented, though he admitted he didn’t remember Valeria when Sandoval showed him the photo on the ID. “There were about 300 guests that night,” Méndez justified, promising to provide the complete list of attendees and employees.

While waiting for the files, Sandoval contacted his office to check if there was a missing person report. The response came quickly: “Yes, detective, we have a report from November 13, 1999. Her father, Edmundo Herrera, president of Banco del Norte, reported her missing.” This detail added another layer of intrigue. Banco del Norte was one of the most influential financial institutions in northeastern Mexico, and the disappearance of its president’s daughter was no ordinary case. According to the report, Valeria had left home to attend the gala and never returned.

The discovery of the purse opened up a host of questions. How did it end up buried in the hotel garden? What happened to Valeria that night in 1999? The gala, described as an elite event, seemed to have gone off without a hitch, but the discovery suggested otherwise. Roberto Elisalde, who was simply going about his daily routine as a waiter, became the key figure who reopened a case many thought was forgotten. “I didn’t know who she was, but I felt I had to do something,” Roberto confessed in a later interview, reflecting the mix of curiosity and responsibility that led him to alert the authorities.

The case of Valeria Herrera Montenegro remains an enigma that captures the imagination of Monterrey. Every detail, from the buried wallet to the gala receipt, invites speculation about what might have happened. While the authorities continue their investigation, Valeria’s story remains a reminder that even at the most glamorous events, secrets can lie hidden, waiting to be uncovered.