Alleged mastermind in journalist 'China Polo' murder case arrested in Venezuela
Adrián Solís Ruiz was detained in Guárico state after escaping from a Venezuelan hospital. He is suspected of being the ringleader of the attack that killed Peruvian journalist Susy Aponte Polo.
Detention in Guárico opens leads towards intellectual authors of murder
Adrián Solís Ruiz, suspected of being the ringleader of the criminal group that murdered Peruvian journalist Susy Aponte Polo—known as 'China Polo'—was captured on 9 October in Guárico state, Venezuela, according to trome.com. Bolivarian Police officers located him at a relative's residence in the centre of Calabozo city after several days of coordinated search with Peruvian authorities.
The detention came after Solís Ruiz fled a hospital in Portuguesa state where he was receiving medical care following a traffic accident. The vehicle in which he was travelling with his partner, identified as Beangel Toro—also referred to as Alexandra Toro Montezuma—collided and overturned on a road on 30 September. Beangel Toro and a minor accompanying them died in the accident. Solís Ruiz survived with multiple injuries and other trauma. When Venezuelan officers arrived at the hospital at the request of Interpol Peru, the suspect was no longer there. Ten days had passed between his escape and his capture in Guárico.
The Caraz crime and the chain of hired perpetrators
Susy Aponte Polo's murder occurred on Saturday, 19 September in Caraz, Áncash. Following the attack, the alleged triggerman, Luis Obispo Díaz, was wounded and captured. During interrogations, Obispo Díaz identified Adrián Solís as the man who hired him to commit the crime in exchange for 15,000 soles. He also stated that Solís had told him the order came from a person known by the aliases 'Pure' or 'Viejo', who supposedly lives in Lima.
Investigations place Solís Ruiz as the link between the direct perpetrators and those who allegedly financed the murder. Sources from the Homicide Investigation Division explained to La República that the capture is of "extreme relevance", given the role attributed to him within the alleged criminal organisation. "The people who hired him knew he ran a criminal organisation dedicated to hired killings. And that person is the one who paid for the job, a sum that far exceeds the 15,000 soles they promised to hitman Luis Obispo," the same sources stated.
Four travellers to Caraz and one operator from Lima
Peruvian investigators have so far identified four people who travelled to Caraz to carry out the attack, plus a fifth subject, Ronald Toro Ardila, who allegedly operated from Lima. "To mobilise all those people requires a lot of money. The person who hired them is someone with significant resources," sources from the Homicide Investigation Division explained.
Security camera footage from hotels in Huaraz and Caraz forms part of the evidence gathered. In those recordings, Adrián Solís would appear alongside Luis Obispo Díaz, his partner, and a third individual known as Ricardo Morocho, suspected of being a possible second hitman in case the first attack had failed.
The money trail and Beangel Toro's role
Beangel Toro's death in the vehicle accident opened a parallel line of investigation into the financing of the crime. According to information released, the young woman allegedly made payments for lodging, food and even the purchase of a mobile phone for the suspected hitman. One of the most significant movements allegedly occurred on 18 September, a day before the murder: Beangel allegedly transferred 200 soles to Andrea González, Luis Obispo Díaz's partner, as part of the agreed payment.
Investigators are also analysing conversations and bank movements linked to an account that allegedly remained inactive since 2023 and was subsequently used to carry out transactions related to the case. In one of the disclosed records, this is heard: "But tell me which payment, I have everything here Soleni, that's why I need to bring the mobile phone and it's all there in my account". Another statement clarifies that Beangel was responsible for all the payments and that the movements were recorded through transaction scanning.
The same conversations would reveal Beangel's concern about the judicial situation of her brother Ronald Toro Ardila, whom she sought to help so he could be released from prison.
Capture considered a decisive breakthrough
For Peruvian detectives, Solís Ruiz's detention in Venezuela represents a significant breakthrough in the investigation. The suspect could know the identity of those who financed the crime and ordered the murder of the broadcaster and candidate. Sources from Interpol Peru confirmed the detention of the Venezuelan citizen, who had left the country after the crime, according to trome.com, citing information from Ocurre Ahora.
Peruvian authorities continue working to establish who provided the financial resources necessary to mobilise those involved and coordinate the attack against Susy Aponte Polo. The person identified only by the aliases 'Pure' or 'Viejo', allegedly residing in Lima, remains the missing link in the investigative chain.
Source: Google News VE — Crime