Justice Department seeks harsher sentence for Ruthy Trenche in 2024 riders' deaths
Prosecutors will ask the court to consider aggravating factors against the woman convicted of killing two men while driving drunk in Loíza.
PhotoThe short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that the Department of Justice announced on Monday it will request aggravating circumstances to increase the penalty against Ruthy Trenche Chávez
- Trenche Chávez was declared guilty in the March 23 2024 crash in Loíza that killed José Jaime Díaz Serrano and Eduardo Álvarez Sosa while she drove intoxicated
- Carolina district prosecutor Iris Alicia Martínez Juarbe said the sentence must match the seriousness of the crimes and their irreversible consequences
- Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres stated that prosecutors will use all legal tools to seek a proportional sentence for the grave facts
Prosecutors push for longer term
The Department of Justice announced on Monday, Oct. 26 that the Carolina district attorney's office will ask the Court of First Instance to weigh aggravating circumstances that could lengthen the sentence of Ruthy Trenche Chávez. She was previously found guilty in the deaths of two men struck while riding horses on March 23 2024 in Loíza. Metro Puerto Rico reported that the request will be made during a hearing scheduled for Nov. 23.
District Attorney Iris Alicia Martínez Juarbe said the imposed penalty must correspond to the gravity of the offenses committed by Trenche Chávez and to the irreparable consequences of her acts that caused the loss of two human lives. Justice Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres added that the facts are extremely serious, took two lives and left deep pain in the victims' families. Both officials stressed that prosecutors will employ every available legal mechanism to obtain a sentence proportional to the crimes. Primera Hora reported that the case is being handled by prosecutors Marcos Algarín Echandi, Juan M. Mencacci Bagú and Gilberto Gierbolini.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
La posición del Ministerio Público es que la pena impuesta debe responder a la gravedad de los delitos cometidos por Trenche Chávez y a las consecuencias irreparables de sus actos, que provocaron la pérdida de dos vidas humanas
Our translation: The position of the Public Ministry is that the imposed penalty must respond to the gravity of the crimes committed by Trenche Chávez and to the irreparable consequences of her acts, which caused the loss of two human lives
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Estamos ante unos hechos sumamente graves que cobraron la vida de dos personas y dejaron un profundo dolor en sus familias
Our translation: We are facing extremely serious facts that claimed the lives of two people and left deep pain in their families
The source's own statement, as quoted by Primera Hora. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Families' interests defended
Martínez Juarbe reiterated the prosecution's solidarity with the families of José Jaime Díaz Serrano and Eduardo Álvarez Sosa. She said the Department of Justice through the Carolina prosecutor's office will continue to defend their interests in this final judicial stage. The officials did not disclose the current sentencing range or the specific aggravating factors they intend to argue.
The Nov. 23 hearing will address the challenge to the pre-sentence report, consideration of aggravating circumstances and the actual sentencing. Both outlets reported that Trenche Chávez was driving under the influence of alcohol and acted negligently when the crash occurred.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora agree on the date of the announcement (Monday Oct. 26 2026), the upcoming Nov. 23 hearing, the names of the victims, the date and location of the 2024 crash, the fact that Trenche Chávez was convicted of driving while intoxicated and negligent homicide, and the key quotes from prosecutor Iris Alicia Martínez Juarbe and Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres (with minor variations in wording). Primera Hora adds the name of a third prosecutor, Gilberto Gierbolini, who handled the scene, and includes an extra paragraph of solidarity from the district attorney; Metro Puerto Rico does not mention him.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the current sentencing guidelines or range for the offenses, the specific aggravating factors the prosecution will request, whether Trenche Chávez is in custody, the exact blood-alcohol level recorded, or any statements from the defense or the victims' families. They also omit what penalties the families are seeking and whether a plea or trial led to the guilty finding.
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 Justicia busca aumentar la pena contra Ruthy Trenche por muerte de dos jinetes
- Reporting Justicia busca aumentar la pena contra Ruthy Trenche por muerte de dos jinetes
- Reporting Fiscalía pide agravantes para aumentar pena contra Ruthy Trenche por atropellar jinetes
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora both covered the Department of Justice announcement and quoted the same two officials. Details about the prosecutors involved and the precise wording of the statements rest on each individual outlet.
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.
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