Ex-son-in-law arrested for double homicide of elderly couple in Suba, Bogotá
Freddy Alexander Barajas was arrested by the Technical Investigation Body as the alleged perpetrator of the murder of two senior citizens in the Aures neighbourhood. The victims had sustained multiple stab wounds.
Family member captured for double crime at Suba residence
The Technical Investigation Body (CTI) of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation arrested Freddy Alexander Barajas, identified as the alleged perpetrator of the murder of Guillermo Alberto Anzola, aged 72, and Gloria Guerrero, aged 66, according to noticiascaracol.com. A judge with guarantee control authority ruled the procedure legal.
The bodies of the couple were found lifeless inside their own residence in the Aures neighbourhood, municipality of Suba, in Bogotá. The remains of Guillermo and Gloria were located in two separate rooms, both bearing multiple wounds caused by a sharp instrument.
Victims and circumstances of discovery
Guillermo Anzola suffered from a terminal illness that made mobility difficult; his body was found very close to his walking stick. The most recent investigations revealed furthermore that Gloria Guerrero had been a victim of sexual violence.
Barajas was no stranger to the family. He had been connected to the family unit for more than 20 years and lived in the same residence, renting a room. A granddaughter of the victims, whose identity is kept confidential for security reasons, explained that her grandparents opened the doors of their home because of the affection they felt towards her mother and her nephew.
"If at some point they opened the door of their house so that this person would enter, live with them and unfortunately everything ended this way, well this was because of the love they had for their daughter and their grandson, because they asked for it at the time. My grandparents acted from the affection and trust they had in their family; in reality it was a person who had been in our family for more than 20 years," the woman recounted.
Evidence and background of the accused
During inspections at the crime scene, investigators gathered key elements to advance the investigation: a cap and a balaclava found at the location. According to a relative of the victims, the security cameras inside the residence recorded a subject attempting to conceal his identity as he left the property, carrying those same items and wearing black trousers and shoes.
The Office of the Attorney General disclosed during the judicial proceedings that Barajas has several records for domestic violence and personal injury. Although he has no prior convictions, the lawyer for the victims' family noted that these records demonstrate a pattern of violent conduct.
"This person is also informed by the Office of the Attorney General that he has had several records for violence and personal injury, for domestic violence. He has no convictions, simply records, but they do show a pattern; obviously this person is a danger to society," the legal representative affirmed.
Attitude of the accused and family concern
The lawyer for the relatives expressed concern about the possibility that Barajas could face the proceedings at liberty. He furthermore complained that during the hearing where charges were read, the accused showed an indifferent attitude: he laughed before the guarantee control judge and before the camera whilst listening to the charges against him.
Barajas himself presented a sworn statement in which he claimed not to have been at the residence at the time of the events.
Seven months after the case became public, the relatives of Guillermo and Gloria relive the pain of that day, but they have confidence that the arrest represents the definitive step towards full clarification of the facts and the obtaining of justice.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá