Pedro Julio Samayoa Moreno was born on July 25, 1985 in Guatemala City. Beginning his training in the youth categories of the CSD Municipalunder-17.
His professional career was developed mainly in Guatemala National League, where he served as a holding midfielder, a key position in ball recovery and game distribution. Throughout his career he joined the squads of teams such as Municipal, Deportivo Mixco, Xelajú MC, Universidad de San Carlos, Deportivo Petapa and Mictlán.
In addition to his time in clubs, Samayoa was summoned at different times to processes of the Guatemala National Team.
In the final stage of his career, between 2019 and 2023, he alternated participations in teams such as Municipal and Mixco.
In public statements made in 2023Samayoa stated that he was finishing studying law in virtual mode and that he was also preparing to obtain licenses as a soccer coach. That same year he mentioned that he was the father of two daughters and that he was married to Julio Gómez’s cousin (also ex-footballer).
Regarding his family environment, it is known that his mother, Zully Moreno Barbierpracticed as a legal professional and was prosecutor of the Public Ministrywhile his brother was linked to legal studies, according to statements by the former soccer player himself.
Samayoa officially retired from football in 2025.
The link with the Claudina Velásquez Paiz case
The name of Pedro Samayoa appears in the investigation for the murder of Claudina Isabel Velásquez Paizwhich occurred on August 12, 2005.
According to a report prepared by the Institute of Comparative Studies in Criminal Sciences of Guatemala (ICCPG) along with Jorge Rolando Velásquez Duránfather of the victim, and sent to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in 2007, Pedro Samayoa would have been one of the last people in having contact with Claudina the night of his disappearance.
According to that document, both agreed on a party in zone 8 of Mixco. The version of Pedro Samayoa indicates that the young woman left the place on her own “at approximately 12:30 in the morning”, indicating that she had left alone heading to her home.
However, the report includes the testimony of his mother, Zully Morenowho reported that during the early morning he managed to communicate with Claudina and, while speaking with her, he heard screams: “No, no, no”which led her to warn her family: “They are going to do something to this girl, they can kill her”so he decided to go to the victim’s residence to alert his parents.
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Following this, Moreno went with Claudina’s parents to the place where the party was taking place. However, according to the story included in the document, When she arrived at the sector’s checkpoint, she indicated that her son was already at home and that he had called her crying, so he decided to leave the place around 3 in the morning.
Hours later, on August 13, 2005, the body of Claudina Velásquez Paiz It was located in a vacant lot. The autopsy report, dated August 16, 2005, established the cause of death as: “Piercing wound caused by a firearm projectile in the skull and cerebral hemorrhage”.
Irregularities and international condemnation
The case of Claudina Velásquez Paiz has been emblematic of the failures in the investigation. Official reports documented constant changes of prosecutors, interruptions in proceedings and omissions in the collection of evidence, which weakened the progress of the process for years.
In 2015, the IACHR condemned the State of Guatemala for its responsibility in the lack of a diligent investigation. The ruling pointed out serious negligence, including the delay in activating the search for the victim and deficiencies in the handling of the case.
Records of the Public Ministry indicate that in 2004 Zully Moreno Barbier served as Special Prosecutor in the Prosecutor’s Office against Public Services. However, due to the secrecy that has surrounded the file for years, There is no official confirmation that he had any interference in the investigation of the Claudina Velásquez Case..
Arrest warrants and case development
For years, the case remained confidentialbut it had two advances in 2025.
On July 17, José Estuardo Ortiz Zepeda and Edgar Armando Gudiel They were linked to criminal proceedings for their alleged involvement in the crime of Claudina.
The authorities had subsequently summoned Pedro Samayoa and members of his family circle to give a statement, however, they did not appear.
This made Judge Abelina Cruz, of the High Risk Court D, partially lift the reservation of the file and declare in rebellion against five people linked to the case, including the ex-footballer, his mother and brother, and his order was capture and a was activated international search.
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Five more accused in the Claudina Velásquez Paiz case
He High Risk Court D He declared five people linked to the case in absentia and issued arrest warrants after failing to appear to testify.
| Name | Description | Signage |
| Pedro Julio Samayoa Moreno | Claudina’s friend | Rebellion, murder, false testimony and obstruction of criminal action. |
| Zully Moreno Barbier | Peter’s mother | Rebellion, murder, false testimony and obstruction of criminal action. |
| Eduardo Alejandro Samayoa Moreno | Peter’s brother | Rebellion, murder, false testimony and obstruction of criminal action. |
| Dalia Liset Palma Herrarte | Eduardo Samayoa’s ex-wife | Rebellion, murder, false testimony and obstruction of criminal action. |
| Jorge Barahona Orellana | Zully Moreno’s ex-exposure | Rebellion, murder, false testimony and obstruction of criminal action. |
In the case of Claudina Isabel Velásquez Paiz
WANTED
Eduardo Alejandro Samayoa Moreno
Jorge Barahona Orellana
Zully Moreno Barbier
Pedro Julio Samayoa Moreno
Dalia Liset Palma Herrarte and/or Dalia Liset Palma Herrarte by Ljungströmmer pic.twitter.com/upx9MCVUKI— PNC of Guatemala (@PNCdeGuatemala) November 11, 2025
They are joined by José Estuardo Ortiz Zepeda and Edgar Armando Gudiel, who were linked to criminal proceedings for their alleged involvement in the crime of Claudina Isabel Velásquez Paiz.
Pedro Samayoa captured in the US
He Public Ministry (MP) confirmed the April 21 the capture of Pedro Samayoahis mother Zully Moreno Barbier and his brother Eduardo Alejandro Samayoa Moreno in it Stewart Detention Centerin the state of Georgia, United States.
According to the investigative entity, efforts are already being coordinated for their deportation to Guatemala, where they face arrest warrants for their alleged involvement in the murder of Claudina Velásquez Paiz.
Until now, US authorities have not detailed the circumstances of the arrest or whether it responds directly to the arrest warrant or to his immigration status.
Claudina Velásquez case, two decades of the case
More than 20 years after the crime, the capture of Pedro Samayoa and his family marks a new chapter in the judicial process.
The progress of the case will depend on the deportation procedures and the hearings that determine the degree of participation of those indicated in one of the most emblematic files in the country, which also gave rise to the Isabel-Claudina Alert for the immediate search for missing women.