Man Arrested After Being Found With Ancient Mummy He Referred to as ‘Spiritual Girlfriend’ Named Juanita

Peruvian authorities say they’ve detained a man who was allegedly found carrying an ancient mummy.

According to the BBC, 26-year-old Julio Cesar Bermejo was taken into custody Saturday after he and two others were spotted at an archaeological site in Puno. Police confronted the seemingly intoxicated Bermejo at the scene and noticed he was carrying a large red cooler bag labeled “Pedidos Ya,” the name of a popular food delivery app in South America. Officers opened the cooler and found a mummified corpse believed to be 600 to 800 years old.

The man told authorities the corpse belonged to his father, who came home with it about 30 years ago. Bermejo did not specify how his dad acquired the corpse, but referred to it as his own “spiritual girlfriend” named “Juanita.” He claimed he had taken the mummy out so he could show it off to his friend.

“It sleeps in my bedroom, with me. There’s my bed, the TV set and next to it, there’s Juanita,” he told officers, as reported by NBC News. “I take care of it. It’s like, if you’ll pardon the expression, as if it were my spiritual girlfriend.” 

Officials who’ve analyzed the mummy say the remains likely belonged to a 4-foot-11 Puno man who was about 45 years old at the time of his death. The corpse has since been turned over to the Peruvian Culture Ministry, which has classified it as a national cultural asset.

Peruvian officials confirmed Julio Cesar Bermejo and the two other men will remain in custody while they investigate the case.