Forced disappearance marks a before and an after in those who experiment this tragedy; victims say it leaves an inerasable trace that can only be eliminated with the death of the bereaved. The inefficiency of justice and the motivations behind the disappearance have decisive effects on mourning processes. From a Freudian perspective, the article examines the elements that differentiate this process from other types of mourning and loss. Mourning, taboo regarding the dead, grief and angst are some of the Freudian concepts that contribute to the understanding of this drama experienced by many Colombians.