In February 2023, a strange story from Peru made headlines around the world. A 26-year-old man brought what he called his girlfriend to a public park so his friends could finally meet her.
At first, it seemed like an ordinary meeting between friends. They planned to talk, drink, and spend the afternoon together.
But nothing about this story was ordinary.
The woman Julio called “Juanita” was not alive. She was an 800-year-old mummy.
Here’s what happened.
Julio Finally Decides to Introduce His Girlfriend
One afternoon in late February 2023, Julio Bermejo walked to a park in Puno, Peru, with his girlfriend, Juanita.
His two best friends were already waiting for him.
Although Julio had been talking about Juanita for a long time, his friends had never met her.
That was unusual because they were very close friends.
Julio had always avoided introducing her because he knew people thought she was different. He worried they would laugh at him or judge his relationship.
Eventually, after repeated requests from his friends, he agreed to bring her.
A Cooler Full of Rum
Julio carried a large red cooler as he walked through the park.
Inside were:
- Bottles of rum
- Ice
- Cups
- Soda
The group planned to have drinks while talking.
Drinking alcohol in public is illegal in Peru, and Julio knew he was taking a risk.
Still, he believed everything would be fine.
Meeting at an Ancient Park
The group met near an old stone wall inside the park.
Puno contains many archaeological remains from the pre-Hispanic period, including structures linked to the Inca civilization.
Because these ruins are common throughout the area, locals often walk past them without giving them much thought.
Julio and his girlfriend reached the wall, where his friends greeted them.
To Julio’s surprise, everything went well.
His friends were friendly.
Everyone started talking.
Rum was poured into plastic cups.
For a while, it seemed like Julio’s worries had been unnecessary.
The Afternoon Changes
As everyone drank together, Julio noticed his friends suddenly staring behind him.
Their expressions changed.
They looked frightened.
Julio immediately thought the police had arrived because the group was drinking alcohol in public.
He turned around.
He was right.
Two police officers were walking toward them.
Police Discover Something Unexpected
The officers approached the group and quickly noticed the alcohol.
That alone could have caused trouble.
But when they looked inside Julio’s red cooler, everything changed.
Instead of finding only bottles and ice, they found another passenger.
It was Juanita.
Who Was Juanita?
Juanita was not Julio’s girlfriend in the normal sense.
She was an approximately 800-year-old mummified human from Peru’s pre-Hispanic period.
The mummy had reportedly belonged to Julio’s family for decades after being acquired by his father.
Julio had grown up with it in his home.
Over time, he developed a deep emotional attachment.
He referred to the mummy as his girlfriend.
He even claimed she comforted him, held his hand, and corrected his behavior whenever he made mistakes.
To Julio, the relationship was real.
Why His Friends Wanted to Meet Her
Julio’s friends already knew his family owned a mummy.
Whenever Julio referred to it as his girlfriend, they assumed he was joking.
Eventually, curiosity got the better of them.
They kept asking him to bring Juanita so they could finally see what he was talking about.
They expected an unusual family artifact.
They did not expect Julio genuinely believed he was in a relationship with it.
Julio Is Arrested
After discovering the mummy, police detained Julio.
He faced two separate issues.
First, the group had been drinking alcohol in a public park.
More seriously, police accused Julio of illegally possessing a historical and cultural artifact.
Authorities confiscated the mummy and transferred it to Peru’s Ministry of Culture for examination and preservation.
The case attracted international attention because of both the unusual relationship and the cultural importance of the mummy.
What Happened to Juanita?
After being seized, the mummy was placed under the care of Peru’s Ministry of Culture.
Officials planned to study and preserve the remains.
As of 2023, no major public updates had been released regarding Julio’s legal case.
There was also no indication that the mummy would ever be returned to him.
Why the Story Became Global News
This case spread quickly because it combined several unusual elements:
- A man describing an ancient mummy as his girlfriend.
- Friends believing it was only a joke.
- A meeting in a public park ending with police intervention.
- An important archaeological artifact hidden inside a cooler alongside bottles of rum.
- Questions about mental health, cultural heritage, and the protection of historical objects.
The combination made it one of the most unusual news stories of 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Juanita really Julio’s girlfriend?
Julio believed she was. He described the mummy as his girlfriend and claimed they shared a real emotional relationship.
How old was the mummy?
Experts estimated the mummy was around 800 years old and dated to Peru’s pre-Hispanic period.
Why was Julio arrested?
Police alleged he illegally possessed a protected historical artifact. The group was also drinking alcohol in a public park.
Where is the mummy now?
The mummy was confiscated by Peru’s Ministry of Culture for research and preservation.
Has the case been resolved?
As of 2023, no major public update had been released about Julio’s legal case.
Conclusion
What began as a simple meeting between friends ended with one of the strangest arrests in recent memory.
Julio only wanted his friends to meet the person he loved. Instead, police discovered that his “girlfriend” was an 800-year-old mummy hidden inside a red cooler.
The incident raised questions about cultural heritage, personal belief, and the protection of ancient artifacts. It also ensured that this bizarre case would be remembered long after that afternoon in a park in Puno.