A tense search for two young brothers, aged six and two, is underway after their father reportedly took them from their mother’s home. The desperate effort focuses on a challenging waterway in Río Negro. Andrés Morosini, 28, is believed to have forcibly removed his sons from his ex-partner’s house in Mercedes, Soriano.
Search teams concentrated their efforts near the Don Esteban stream throughout Thursday. This spot sits at kilometer 58 on Route 20, close to the town of Young. The initial search on Thursday night ended without finding them. Teams were back early Friday morning at 7 AM. Guillermo Pais, who oversees the Port of Fray Bentos, confirmed the police are following up on leads to either confirm or rule out clues.
Navy divers came from Montevideo to assist. They used a rubber boat to comb the stream. Their underwater search covered about 100 meters. The Don Esteban stream averages between 1.5 and 3.5 meters deep. Divers faced a strong current and hidden dangers, which made their work difficult and limited.
Police used a special geothermal drone for an aerial search in the area. This drone can spot heat, helping them rule out some areas. It allowed them to focus their search on specific spots. Pais explained that finding heat guides their efforts.
Ruben Olivera, a local resident, also joined the search with his tractor. The farmer noted the stream is not very deep but has a strong flow. This area is often visited by fishermen and hunters in vehicles. Investigators are very interested in a tire track. It looks like a vehicle might have gone into the water. This track is similar to one from the BYD F0 car Morosini was driving with his young sons.