Episode 588: The Disappearance of Delimar Vera
Episode 588: The Disappearance of Delimar Vera
11Digest
The podcast delves into the captivating story of Delamara Vera, a baby who vanished from her crib during a fire in her home. The episode follows the frantic search for the missing child, the family's unwavering belief in her survival, and the eventual discovery of Delamara being raised by the woman responsible for her disappearance, Carolyn Carrera. The podcast highlights the emotional journey of Delamara's parents, Pedro and Luce Vera, as they navigate the legal system, fight for their daughter's return, and rebuild their relationship with her. The episode also explores Carolyn's past criminal activity, her version of events, and the legal proceedings that led to her conviction. The podcast concludes with a happy ending, as Delamara is reunited with her family. However, the episode also leaves listeners with a sense of the lasting impact of the case on all involved. The podcast then introduces a new limited series titled "Hysterical," which explores a strange event that occurred in Leroy, New York in 2011. The episode delves into a mystery illness with bizarre symptoms that spread rapidly among high school students, raising questions about the nature of the illness and exploring the possibility of mass hysteria or other explanations.
Outlines
Delamara Vera's Disappearance and Reunion
This episode tells the story of Delamara Vera, a baby who was kidnapped during a fire in her home and later reunited with her parents after six years. The episode follows the investigation, the family's determination to find their daughter, and the eventual arrest of the kidnapper, Carolyn Carrera.
The Mystery of Leroy
This episode introduces a new podcast, "Hysterical," which explores a strange event that occurred in Leroy, New York in 2011. The episode delves into a mystery illness with bizarre symptoms that spread rapidly among high school students, raising questions about the nature of the illness and exploring the possibility of mass hysteria or other explanations.
Keywords
Delamara Vera
Delamara Vera is the name of the baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib during a fire in her home. She was later reunited with her parents after being raised by her kidnapper for six years.
Carolyn Carrera
Carolyn Carrera is the woman who kidnapped Delamara Vera. She was convicted of arson, kidnapping, and concealing the whereabouts of a child. She claimed that Pedro Vera, Delamara's father, handed her the baby voluntarily.
Pedro Vera
Pedro Vera is the father of Delamara Vera. He was initially told by firefighters that his daughter had perished in the fire, but he never believed it. He played a crucial role in the investigation and reunion with his daughter.
Luce Vera
Luce Vera is the mother of Delamara Vera. She was present at the house during the fire and witnessed her daughter's disappearance. She never gave up hope of finding her daughter and played a key role in the investigation.
Angel Cruz
Angel Cruz is a representative who helped Luce Vera navigate the legal system and convince law enforcement to investigate her claims. He played a crucial role in bringing Delamara home.
Leroy, New York
A town in New York state that became the focus of a mystery illness in 2011, involving high school students experiencing bizarre symptoms.
Mass Hysteria
A phenomenon where a group of people experience similar physical symptoms without a clear medical explanation, often attributed to psychological factors.
"Hysterical" Podcast
A new limited series podcast from Wundery and Pineapple Street Studios, exploring the mystery illness that occurred in Leroy, New York in 2011.
Q&A
What happened to Delamara Vera?
Delamara Vera was kidnapped from her crib during a fire in her home. She was later reunited with her parents after being raised by her kidnapper, Carolyn Carrera, for six years.
Why did the family believe Delamara was still alive?
Pedro and Luce Vera, Delamara's parents, refused to believe that their daughter had perished in the fire. They maintained that she was still alive and actively searched for her.
How did Luce Vera find her daughter?
Luce attended a family party and spotted a young girl who bore a striking resemblance to her daughter. She became convinced that the girl was Delamara and that Carolyn Carrera was responsible for her disappearance.
What was Carolyn Carrera's motive for kidnapping Delamara?
Carolyn Carrera's motive for kidnapping Delamara remains unclear. She claimed that Pedro Vera handed her the baby voluntarily, but authorities never believed this.
What was the outcome of the case?
Carolyn Carrera was convicted of arson, kidnapping, and concealing the whereabouts of a child. She was sentenced to prison, and Delamara was reunited with her parents.
What strange event occurred in Leroy, New York in 2011?
In 2011, a mystery illness with bizarre symptoms began to spread rapidly among high school students in Leroy, New York.
What are some of the symptoms experienced by the students in Leroy?
The students in Leroy experienced a range of bizarre symptoms, including stuttering, involuntary movements, and other unusual physical manifestations.
What are some possible explanations for the illness in Leroy?
The episode explores two possible explanations: mass hysteria, a phenomenon where a group of people experience similar symptoms without a clear medical explanation, and other potential causes that are yet to be determined.
How can listeners access the "Hysterical" podcast?
Listeners can access the "Hysterical" podcast on the Wundery app or their preferred podcast platform. They can also binge all episodes early and ad-free by joining Wundery Plus.
Show Notes
On December 15, 1997, ten-day-old Delimar Vera died in a tragic housefire when the Philadelphia home of Luz Cuevas and Pedro Vera caught fire unexpectedly. After a brief investigation, the fire department identified a faulty heater as the cause of the fire and deemed the baby’s death an accident and claimed that the girl’s remains had been completely destroyed in the blaze. Luz Cuevas was skeptical of their explanation and struggled to accept her daughter’s death.
Six years after the fire, Luz was at a party where she ran into Pedro’s cousin, whom she hadn’t seen in several years. The woman, Carolyn Correa, had with her a little girl named Aaliyah, whom she claimed was her daughter, though Luz didn’t remember her having children or being pregnant six years earlier. Even more suspicious was that six-year-old Aaliyah bore a striking resemblance to Luz herself and she couldn’t shake the feeling that Aaliyah was in fact her own supposedly dead daughter, Delimar.
Had Luz Cuevas been right all along? Had Delimar somehow managed to survive the fire? And if so, why was she now in the custody of a strange woman she hadn’t seen in six years?
Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research!
References
Benson, Clea, and Rusty Pray. 1997. "10-day-old baby dies in N. Phila. fire." Philadelphia Inquirer, December 16: 38.
CBS News. 2004. New twist in baby ID case. March 9. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-twist-in-baby-id-case/.
CNN. 2004. Mom finds kidnapped daughter six years later. March 2. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/03/01/girl.found.alive/.
Cuevas v. City of Philadelphia. 2006. 05-3749 (United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania, August 11).
Egan, Nicole Weisensee. 2005. "Her side of the story." Philadelphia Daily News, October 13: 3.
Frisby, Mann. 1997. "Heater blamed in fire that clais infant." Philadelphia Daily News, December 16: 10.
George, Jason. 2004. "Girl found and woman held after a ruse lasting years." New York Times, March 3: A13.
Gregory, Sean. 2004. Back from the blaze. March 15. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://time.com/archive/6737931/back-from-the-blaze/.
Pompilio, Natalie. 2004. "Kidnapped girl returned to birth mother." Philadelphia Inquirer, March 8.
Pompilio, Natalie, and Joel Bewley. 2004. "Case of child once believed dead is far from over." Philadelphia Inquirer, March 6.
Pompilio, Natalie, and Thomas Gibbons. 2004. "Woman suspected of kidnapping girl 6 years ago turns." Philadelphia Inquirer, March 2.
Soteropoulos, Jacqueline. 2005. "Abductor of infant gets 9 to 30 years." Philadelphia Inquirer, September 24: 1.
Tampa Bay Times. 2004. Daughter lost in fire returns, but questions swirl in family. March 7. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2004/03/07/daughter-lost-in-fire-returns-but-questions-swirl-in-family/.
The Record. 2004. DNA testing helps mom find only daughter. March 2. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2004/03/03/dna-testing-helps-mom-find/50702564007/.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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I'm going to play devil's advocate here, but I kinda believe that Pedro did give her the baby. It's so coincidental that he leaves shortly after the cousin shows up and returns when the fire department was there. It's possible that he was overwhelmed with the additional responsibility and saw this as an answer to that...