So this is definitely one of those “only in Peru” stories that sounds too bizarre to be real, but here we are. Peruvian authorities just made what might be the strangest arrest of the year when they discovered a former food delivery worker had been casually living with an ancient mummy for three decades – and treating it like his romantic partner.
The Discovery That Started It All
police in the city of Puno were doing routine patrols through a local park when they spotted 26-year-old Julio Cesar Bermejo hanging out with some friends. Nothing unusual there, except for the fact that he was carrying around a suspiciously large thermal bag – the kind food delivery drivers use to keep orders warm. When officers decided to investigate, they probably weren’t expecting to find a centuries-old preserved human body wrapped in bandages and curled up in the fetal position.
The mummy had been stuffed into Bermejo’s old work bag, the same insulated carrier he’d used during his days delivering food to people’s homes. Talk about a career change – from bringing people their dinner to hauling around archaeological treasures.
Meet “Juanita” (Who’s Actually Juan)
This is where the story gets really weird. Bermejo had given the mummy a name – “Juanita” – and described their relationship in terms that would make anyone do a double-take. In a video that quickly went viral on social media, he explained: “At home, she’s in my room, she sleeps with me. I take care of her.” He genuinely referred to the ancient remains as his “spiritual girlfriend.”
The mental image of this guy tucking in a 600-year-old mummy every night is both hilarious and deeply unsettling. Bermejo seemed completely sincere about his attachment to the remains, talking about caring for “her” like she was a living person rather than, you know, a centuries-old corpse.
But here’s the kicker – experts from Peru’s Ministry of Culture took one look at the remains and immediately corrected the record. “It’s not a Juanita, it’s a Juan,” announced a ministry specialist. The mummy was actually a male individual, at least 45 years old at the time of death, who likely lived in the eastern area of Puno region in the Peruvian Andes.
So this guy had been having a “spiritual relationship” with what he thought was a female mummy for 30 years, only to discover his “girlfriend” was actually a middle-aged dude from the mountains. The irony is almost too perfect.
Three Decades of Mummy Roommate Life
According to Bermejo’s account, this unusual living arrangement started when he was just a baby. He claims his father brought the mummy home almost 30 years ago, which means Bermejo literally grew up with ancient human remains as part of his household. Most kids have teddy bears or imaginary friends – this guy had a pre-Hispanic mummy.
It’s mind-boggling to think about how this became normalized in their family. Did they set a place for Juan at the dinner table? Did neighbors ever ask about the mysterious roommate who never seemed to leave the house? How do you explain to friends why there’s a mummified body chilling in your bedroom?
The fact that Bermejo kept this secret for decades suggests he knew it wasn’t exactly socially acceptable behavior, yet he continued the arrangement well into adulthood. It raises so many questions about his upbringing and what kind of conversations happened in that household.
The Park Hangout That Ended Everything
When police found Bermejo in the park, he wasn’t alone – he was with a group of friends who apparently knew about his unusual companion. His explanation for why he was carrying around a priceless archaeological artifact? “My friends wanted to see it.”
Imagine being in that friend group. “Hey Julio, bring that mummy you’ve been sleeping with for show-and-tell!” It’s like the world’s most illegal and bizarre version of sharing vacation photos.
Bermejo was quick to deny any intention of selling the remains, which suggests authorities suspected he might be involved in the illegal antiquities trade. Peru has ongoing issues with artifact smuggling, so his protestations of innocence might have fallen on skeptical ears.
Peru’s Archaeological Treasure Trove Problem
This incident highlights a bigger issue in Peru, which is basically sitting on one of the world’s largest collections of archaeological treasures. The country is absolutely loaded with ancient sites and artifacts, from the famous Machu Picchu (built in the 15th century near Cusco) to countless other pre-Columbian ruins scattered throughout the Andes.
With so much archaeological wealth lying around, it’s unfortunately common for people to stumble upon or actively seek out ancient artifacts. The difference is that most people don’t decide to make them part of the family and develop romantic feelings toward them.
The Ministry of Culture has now taken possession of the mummy “with the aim of protecting and preserving this heritage,” which is definitely where it should have been all along. These remains represent an important piece of Peru’s pre-Hispanic history and deserve proper scientific study and preservation, not a spot in someone’s bedroom.
The Aftermath
Bermejo remains in detention while investigators try to figure out exactly what laws he’s broken and what charges to file. It’s probably not every day that prosecutors have to figure out the legal implications of someone having a decades-long relationship with stolen archaeological remains.
This whole story perfectly captures the weird intersection of ancient history and modern life that you can only find in places like Peru. While most of us are worried about our dating lives, this guy was literally sleeping next to a 600-year-old mummy and calling it romance.
The internet, predictably, has had a field day with this story, and honestly, who can blame them? It’s got everything: archaeological mystery, bizarre relationships, mistaken identity, and a food delivery bag. You literally couldn’t make this stuff up.
