Ecuadorian prosecutors charge five adults and a minor in murder of university manager in Quito
Five adults and a 17-year-old adolescent have been charged with the homicide of Santiago Ávalos, manager of the University of Las Américas. The Public Ministry contends that the crime was planned from within the institution due to conflicts related to internal audits.
Ecuadorian prosecutors charge five adults and a minor in murder of university manager in Quito
Ecuador's General Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against five adults and a 17-year-old in connection with the homicide of Santiago David Ávalos Páez, who worked as administrative financial manager of the University of Las Américas (UDLA), who was murdered on 11 June in the capital.
The crime occurred as the victim was driving along Avenida Oswaldo Guayasamín, in the eastern sector of Quito. Since then, authorities have developed a theory pointing to prior planning from within the educational institution itself.
According to the accusation, Galo Hernán Osorio Góngora—who held the position of Director of Operations at UDLA—allegedly acted as an indirect perpetrator. María del Carmen Salcedo Valdivieso and Josselyn Lisbeth Villarreal Carvajal were identified as alleged co-perpetrators. Juan Pablo Guaminga Oña and Juan Carlos Guadalupe Tipán, both employees of the institution, were linked as alleged accomplices. The adolescent, whose identity is protected by law, is allegedly the person who fired the shots.
The Public Ministry's theory indicates that Osorio harboured friction with Ávalos due to audits the latter was conducting into purchase orders and administrative procedures. The concern, according to the Prosecutor's Office, lay in the fact that such reviews could detect irregularities in management.
During the charge hearing, it was revealed that several of those implicated allegedly photographed Ávalos's vehicle and monitored his movements within the campus. A day before the attack, Osorio and Salcedo allegedly entered the car park to capture images of the victim's car. On the day of the homicide itself, Salcedo allegedly took fresh photographs as Ávalos moved from his office towards the lift.
The reconstruction indicates that Villarreal arrived at the university's exterior with the minor, using a transport service requested through the InDrive application. Subsequently, a black motorcycle allegedly followed Ávalos to the location where he was killed.
To support its theory, the Prosecutor's Office presented surveillance footage, analysis of telephone communications, geolocation records, technical inspections, and statements collected during the investigation.
Defence lawyers questioned the prosecutor's arguments. Osorio's representative argued that there is no evidence directly linking him to the minor identified as the material perpetrator, and pointed to the absence of payments, messages, calls, or the murder weapon. The defences of Salcedo and Villarreal, for their part, asserted that the Prosecutor's Office is speculating about the alleged taking and sending of photographs.
The judge in the case ordered pre-trial detention for Osorio, Salcedo, and Villarreal. Guaminga and Guadalupe must comply with alternative measures, including periodic appearances before authorities and restriction on leaving the country. The adolescent remains in preventive custody under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Justice system.
The prosecution investigation will continue for 90 days, a period during which the Public Ministry will need to strengthen the evidence presented.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago