On the morning of September 26, 2022, authorities reported the discovery of the body of a woman on the route leading from San Benito to San Francisco, Petén. Later, the victim was identified as Josseline Melissa Ventura Col, who worked as an agent of the National Civil Police (PNC) at Police Station 62 of that department.
Almost four years later, on May 29, former deputy commissioner Yuvini López Fuentes was captured in his residence, located in the 3 de Abril neighborhood, in San Benito, Petén, as the main suspect in the crime against the agent, according to judicial authorities.
The investigation indicates that on September 25, 2022, at approximately 8 p.m., López Fuentes arrived at the headquarters of Police Station 62, where he met with agent Ventura Col, who was on duty. Both boarded a vehicle owned by the former deputy commissioner.
A day later, the agent’s body was located in some bushes, on the side of the road. The victim was wearing a police uniform.
After López Fuentes’ first statement hearing, held on June 23, a judge from the Petén Femicide Court decided to link him to criminal proceedings and send him to preventive detention for the crime of femicide.
In addition, it gave the Public Ministry a period of three months to expand the proceedings and scheduled the intermediate stage hearing for October 13, 2026.
“The investigations made it possible to establish that, in the context of an unequal power relationship and taking advantage of the work relationship and trust they maintained, the accused would have used the vehicle as a means to transport the victim and subsequently kill him,” the MP added.
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