Corrections Department denies special security for inmate in Aibonito murder case
The agency said the inmate remains in regular housing with no threats received, amid new statements filed in her mother's bid for a new trial.
PhotoThe short version
- El Nuevo Día reported the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation received no threats against the inmate and has not implemented special security measures
- Metro Puerto Rico reported the inmate remains in regular housing and participates normally in institutional activities
- The statements were issued after a sworn declaration by the inmate was filed in a motion seeking a new trial for her mother
- The motion claims the new information about the weapon and additional participants was not available at the original trial
No threats or special measures
The Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DCR) stated on Wednesday, Oct. 14 that it has not received any threats against the inmate, who is serving a 38-year sentence for second-degree murder and a weapons violation in the death of a 16-year-old in Aibonito. El Nuevo Día reported the agency said she remains in the young-adult housing area and continues to participate normally in institutional activities.
Metro Puerto Rico reported the DCR denied that the inmate receives special treatment or extraordinary protection, confirming she is in the regular population of the institution. The clarification comes after a sworn statement by the inmate, dated Oct. 5, was included in a motion filed on Tuesday by lawyers for her mother, who is serving a 102-year sentence for the same crime.
The defense motion, presented in Aibonito court, seeks a new trial for her mother. It cites the inmate's interview statements made during preparation of a pre-sentence report, alleging the murder weapon was a pink peinilla with a blade and that more than one person participated in the attack on Aug. 10-11, 2025.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
En la institución no se ha recibido ninguna amenaza contra la confinada. Permanece en su área de vivienda, en la selección de jóvenes adultos, donde continúa participando con normalidad en las actividades institucionales
Our translation: No threat against the inmate has been received at the institution. She remains in her housing area, in the young adults section, where she continues to participate normally in institutional activities.
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Claims in the new motion
According to El Nuevo Día, the lawyers argue the new information was not known to the defense at the time of the original trial. They say it matches physical evidence recovered at the scene, including a fragment of a pink peinilla presented during the July 3, 2026 trial proceedings.
The motion states that a friend of the victim, who testified for the prosecution, allegedly handed the weapon to the inmate and had been considered a suspect but was not charged. The 16-year-old victim died of 11 stab wounds after being taken to Hospital Menonita. Another 16-year-old who was with the victim was also injured but recovered and testified.
Where the sources differ
Both El Nuevo Día and Metro Puerto Rico agree that the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation denied any threats against the inmate or special security measures, and that she remains in regular housing. El Nuevo Día provided the direct written quote from the DCR and more detail on the pink peinilla evidence and trial dates. Metro Puerto Rico added that the sworn declaration was dated Oct. 5 and that the motion alleges two other young women participated. Both outlets reported the sentences of 38 years for the inmate and 102 years for her mother, and the filing of the new-trial motion on Tuesday.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state whether the court has scheduled a hearing on the new-trial motion or when a decision might be issued. They do not indicate if prosecutors have responded to the claims or if investigators plan to re-interview anyone. The exact location of the current prison facility holding the inmate is not specified, nor are any details about the status of the alleged additional participants.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official “No se ha recibido ninguna amenaza”: niegan que la confinada tenga medidas especiales de seguridad en prisión
- Reporting “No se ha recibido ninguna amenaza”: niegan que la confinada tenga medidas especiales de seguridad en prisión
- Reporting Niegan trato especial en la cárcel para la confinada por supuestas amenazas
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and Metro Puerto Rico both covered the DCR denial on the same day. The details of the new statements and the pink weapon claim rest solely on the defense motion as described by the two outlets. The DCR's position is based on its own written statement.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.