Rita Patiño: An Indigenous Mexican Woman Wrongfully Detained in a US Psychiatric Hospital for 12 Years due to Language Barriers

The police arrived at the church on June 8, 1983, where they found Rita Patiño Quintero, a Rarámuri indigenous woman from Chihuahua, Mexico, seeking refuge in the basement of a Methodist temple in Kansas. Despite the efforts of the agents to communicate with her in English, Rita’s indigenous language hindered understanding, leading to her unjustified detention for the next 12 years. It is believed that she had walked from Mexican soil to Kansas with her presence causing some confusion among the locals.

Observing Rita eating raw eggs, a shepherd alerted the authorities who took her to a police station due to her language barrier. Rita was struggling with harsher climate conditions than what she was used to in her mountainous hometown. The woman was found to have speech problems with authorities unable to understand her, resulting in her commitment to a psychiatric hospital for further evaluation.

Rita’s life became marked by exclusion, medical violence, and loneliness as she navigated the unfamiliar culture and language barrier in Kansas. Despite being a charismatic and philanthropic woman in her community back in Mexico with a partner and son, rumors of her past haunted her as she was disowned and mistreated by many. The documentary filmmaker Santiago Esteinou shed light on Rita’s story, revealing the systemic failures and discrimination she faced during her hospitalization in Kansas.

For years, Rita languished in the hospital due to a lack of translators and understanding of her language, despite her origin being known. Legal battles ensued, uncovering the negligence of medical staff and authorities in ensuring Rita’s proper care and return to her homeland. Rita finally returned to Mexico in 1995 but continued to face challenges receiving her compensation for the ordeal she endured. Despite the setbacks and exploitation she faced, Rita expressed happiness at being back in her familiar surroundings in the mountains, free from the institutional constraints that had plagued her for over a decade.

Tragically, Rita’s life in Mexico post-Kansas was marred by financial mismanagement, leaving her in poverty despite her substantial compensation. The trust set up for her care was mishandled by various administrators, causing her to struggle financially until her passing in 2018. Nevertheless, the Rarámuri community honored her memory with a celebration, believing in the tradition that helps the deceased transition peacefully to their eternal resting place among the stars in the Sierra Tarahumara mountains.