Lesly Mucutuy survived a plane crash in the Amazon. What was happening at home was far more sinister.

In May 2023, 13-year old Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy was travelling on a plane from Araracuara to San José del Guaviare with her family when it crashed into the Amazon rainforest in Columbia. 

The three adults on board were all killed, including her mother, leaving Lesly injured and stranded in the wilderness with her three siblings, Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9, Tien Ranoque Mucutuy, 4, and Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy, 11 months. 

For the next 40 days, Lesly miraculously managed to keep herself and her siblings alive amongst the dangers of the forest. With no source of food or water around, it was the children's connection to their Indigenous culture and their understanding of nature that allowed them to prevail. 

Netflix's The Lost Children documentary explores the gruelling search by Colombian military soldiers and Indigenous volunteers to locate and bring the children safely home. It tells the unbelievable true story of how four children were able to survive for more than a month.

Lesly led her siblings through the forest, living off roots and plants they knew were edible, as well as cassava flour, which was found on the plane, as per AP. The children hid amongst tree trunks to avoid predators. Their great uncle believed this may have been the reason why it took the rescue teams so long to locate the children. 

"They were afraid out there, with the dogs barking," he said. 

Watch the trailer for Netflix's The Lost Children. Article continues after video.

But behind the astonishing story of the Mucutuy children's 40-day survival against all odds, is a far more sinister reality. 

While the majority of the documentary focuses on the incredible resilience of the children, in the latter part of the film there is one segment that makes this story all the more harrowing.

The children's aunt, Yeritza Mucutuy, and grandmother, Fatima Mucutuy, revealed their belief the kids were intentionally evading the search to avoid their father, Manuel Ranoque.

"I knew what was happening," Fatima said. "Lesly didn't want to be found because she didn't want to see Manuel."

"I feel a lot of anger towards that man because of what happened to my sister," Yeritza added.

While it is not explicitly explored in the documentary, Ranoque, who is the father of the two younger children and the step-father of the two elder, was arrested because of accusations he sexually abused one of the Mucutuy siblings before the plane crash. Ranoque has denied the claims, but was charged in October. 

The children's maternal grandfather, Narciso Mucutuy, has also spoken out against Ranoque, accusing him of domestic violence against his daugher, Ranoque's wife. 

The children were rescued after 40 days in the rainforest. Image: Netflix

According to The Washington Post, Narciso told the Colombian media at the time that Ranoque was a violent person and claimed he allegedly struck his own wife. Narciso alleged that there were times when the children had to run to the forest to hide while their parents fought. 

When asked by the Colombian media if he beat his own wife, Ranoque gave a distressing response.

"Verbally, yes. Physically, very little. We more fought with words," he said. 

Speaking to The Post, Ranoque also said, "Yes, we mistreated each other verbally, but I never left her in bed for hours or days because of some beating I had given her."

The final scene of the documentary reveals that Ranoque is currently in jail awaiting trial. 

The children were very malnourished when they were found. Image: Netflix

As of June 2024, a case worker is still currently evaluating who will be granted custody of the Mucutuy siblings. The children's maternal grandparents, alongside Ranoque, had all put forward requests for legal guardianship.

"I'm sad because I am still not with the children," the children's grandmother told Colombia's Caracol TV. "But I am very thankful to those who helped us rescue them."

Feature image: Netflix.