Lina Medina: The 5-Year-Old Mother Whose Case Remains Unresolved

• Lina Medina became the youngest confirmed mother, giving birth via C-section at 5 years and 7 months old on May 14, 1939.
• Doctors determined her pregnancy was due to extreme precocious puberty, a rare condition causing abnormally early physical maturation.
• Her father was arrested for child sexual abuse but released due to lack of evidence; Lina never revealed the identity of her child's father.
• The internationally recognized case remained unresolved due to social stigma and limited forensics available in 1930s Peru.

Why It Matters: It underscores the devastating impact of child abuse and rare medical conditions.