Esteban the Teacher Case: He was found guilty of student death and teachers demand justice.

Teacher Esteban 'N' faces a possible three-year prison sentence after being found guilty of neglecting care after one of his students lost his life in 2023 following an accident at school in which the teacher in question was involved.

His case has gone viral in recent days, following the verdict of the judge in Mexicali, Baja California , and the future sentence that will be handed down on July 3, along with the mobilizations of the teaching profession stating that this is an unfair decision for Esteban 'N'.

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WHO IS MASTER ESTEBAN 'N'?

Esteban 'N' is an elementary school teacher who has worked at the elementary level for 10 years ; he also coaches an American football team in his spare time.

He has two children, his daughter Valeria Canchola , who is also a teacher, and who describes the professor as "my father taught me to teach with love, patience, and commitment. He shaped me as a person and as a teacher."

THE CHRONOLOGY

A timeline of Martín Damián 'N's accident at the “Eucario Zavala” Elementary School has gone viral on social media and in the media .

Testimonies indicate that the 10-year-old boy was allegedly the victim of bullying by other classmates.

According to the graphic, the incident occurred on October 30, 2023, between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m., when the students were playing soccer before entering class; the student fell to the ground (media sources indicate it was due to a push), hitting his head.

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Teacher Esteban was notified by the student at 3:30 p.m. about a headache, hours after the accident. He followed the corresponding protocol, including informing the parents , to whom the child was handed over. He was treated at a clinic affiliated with the school insurance company.

The same timeline, with information from the teacher's relatives , highlights that the minor left school on foot and was treated at the clinic , where he was discharged, despite having one warning sign: vomiting.

He also vomited on two more occasions, and in the early hours of October 31, he was reported to have lost consciousness and was diagnosed with brain death.

Esteban Canchola: The teacher sentenced for the death of a student who sparked controversy on social media. 😨😨😨Video retold from TikTok ( https://t.co/9zATcMRIGy ) pic.twitter.com/n11ZHsqu5y

— Videos and more (@VideosFacil2022) July 1, 2025

On the other hand, the parents of the deceased accused the teacher of not helping the minor when he should have, taking too long to inform them of what had happened to their son.

However, other testimonies specify that the events occurred in this way: students who witnessed the incident where Martín Damián 'N' was injured notified the teacher that their classmate had allegedly been attacked by the other student who was bullying him.

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Witnesses cited by the media claim that the students left their physical education class minutes early , allegedly taught by Esteban 'N', where they played on the school's courts, resulting in the accident where Martín Damián 'N' hit his head.

“From that moment on, the boy's parents sought to blame someone, and they pointed the finger directly at Esteban, falsely accusing him of negligence. They claimed the boy cried for hours and that no action was taken in time. But all the testimonies from students, colleagues, and evidence in the case refuted that version. Esteban acted according to protocol, gave notice, and did what he could as a teacher. But that wasn't enough for those who needed to blame someone,” wrote user Esteban Canchola, allegedly also a relative of teacher Esteban 'N'.

Professor Esteban Canchola was sentenced because, outside of his work schedule, a child hit another child and caused brain death, even though he did everything required by law. @fecode must promote a Law of Legal Protection for Teachers; this cannot happen in Colombia . pic.twitter.com/qlNu1BqSzA

— Profe Castro (@ProfeCastroCO) June 30, 2025

GUILTY OF NEGLECT OF CARE

On June 27, Esteban 'N's hearing was held at the Baja California Justice Center , where a judge found the teacher guilty after two years of criminal proceedings.

Damián's father, Martín González, stated that it is "something very painful and difficult that does not deserve to go unpunished, but it doesn't end there; it also affects the school principal."

On the other hand, she indicated that she hopes that those in charge of the clinic where her son was sent will be held accountable .

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#JUSTICEFORESTEBAN

Outside the Justice Center, teachers gathered to show their support for Esteban "N," stating that this is an unfair ruling that jeopardizes the trust and dignity of the teaching profession.

But the protests didn't stop there; the teacher's case began to spread virally on social media under the hashtag #JusticiaParaEsteban , and the incident was condemned, mostly by teachers.

Among the teachers' arguments, they point out that the accident occurred outside of school hours and that Esteban 'N' followed the protocols established by school authorities. They assert that the teacher was not directly responsible for the fatal outcome.

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