28 March 2023 , 14:30
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A former beauty queen has been arrested after being accused torturing and enslaving vulnerable women in her home.
Maria Hilda Bustillos Lucas, now nicknamed 'Miss Torture' was arrested by police in Mexico on charges of modern slavery and human trafficking.
The former Miss Puebla was arrested on March 18 following accusations that she forced indigenous women living in remote areas to come and work for her.
The women were lured with promises of honest work and decent pay but were instead forced into domestic servitude.
Bustillos would broaden her search for victims by posting job ads on social media with promises of a weekly pay cheque of 1,800 Mexican Peso (around £80).
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In one post it read: "Placement of domestic employees, salary of 1,800 pesos a week, food, roof and rest days."
The house (pictured) where people were kept (Newsflash)But once her victims took her bait, she would lock them up and force them to work at the home of the former pageant winner or at the homes of her friends.
She was first being investigated last year when a victim managed to escape capture and tell the police.
She informed them that she was cut off from the outside world and often starved and even beaten with a hammer.
Up to 15 women are suspected to have been victims to Bustillos's enslavement for over the past 30 years.
Another woman, named Teresa, who reportedly rescued a victim, said at least 15 women were falsely imprisoned.
They were only freed after locals united to free the victims.
Locals have also accused Miss Puebla 1991 of domestic abuse.
Another individual who wanted to keep their identity anonymous, said: "We could hear the screams. She wasn't going to hit them in front of everyone or in the street, but the screams could be heard."
Up to 15 women are suspected to have been victims to Bustillos' abuse over the past 30 years (Newsflash)
This is not the first time Bustillos has been arrested on similar accusations (Newsflash)They also said tradespeople who would come to the house witnessed her commit domestic abuse on not only her staff but to her family as well.
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She added: "Even plumbers, blacksmiths, and workers from gas companies were recurrent witnesses of the abuse that she not only inflicted on her domestic staff but also on her son, daughter, and even her husband."
This is not the first time Bustillos has been arrested on similar accusations.
Bustillos remained in custody until March 9.
But a judge ruled that her arrest was unlawful and demanded she is released immediately.
She was released the very next day.