Second suspect surrenders in Puerto Rico in death of 22-year-old

The short version

• Primera Edición reports that Luciano Reinaldo, 19, presented himself at Comisaría Primera in Puerto Rico on Friday afternoon accompanied by his defense attorney and was placed at the disposition of justice
• Canal Doce Misiones reported that the first suspect, Damián C., 22, was arrested Thursday in Chacra 111 and police consider him a presumed coauthor
• Eldópolis and other outlets state the case began with the discovery of a calcined body inside the trunk of a burned Volkswagen Polo Track on Wednesday afternoon in Potrero Barrero, Itaembé Guazú near Posadas airport
• Primera Edición reported that investigators gathered elements linking Reinaldo to the last hours of the victim and that he was one of the last people to have contact with him

Surrender in Puerto Rico

The investigation into the death of Guido Néstor Adriel Rippel advanced on Friday, Oct. 9, when Luciano Reinaldo, 19, surrendered at a police station in Puerto Rico accompanied by his defense attorney. Primera Edición reported that the information was confirmed through police sources. Reinaldo had been sought since Thursday after authorities gathered elements that linked him to the last hours of the victim.

With this surrender, two people are now detained. Canal Doce Misiones reported that the first arrest occurred during a raid in Chacra 111 where Damián C., 22, was detained. The sources do not specify whether the justice system has formalized the imputation of either suspect or issued pretrial detention.

Discovery of the vehicle

Eldópolis reported that the case began after the discovery of a calcined body inside the trunk of a burned vehicle on Wednesday afternoon in a vacant lot in Potrero Barrero, Itaembé Guazú, near the Posadas airport.

Primera Edición reported that the father of the victim, a retired police commissioner, had reported him missing that morning. Hours later, the owner of a field alerted authorities to the burned car. Police found human remains in the rear of the vehicle.

Lines of investigation

Primera Edición reported that according to elements gathered, Reinaldo would have been one of the last people with whom Rippel had contact. The two knew each other for more than ten years and maintained a friendship. One of the main investigative lines points to an economic conflict related to the sale of a property.

The sources state that investigators suspect that during a meeting a discussion occurred. Primera Edición reported that this reconstruction forms part of the hypotheses under judicial analysis and it remains to determine the concrete participation that each of those involved would have had. Canal Doce Misiones reported that forensic examinations must establish the cause and mechanics of the death.

Where the sources differ

All three sources agree that Luciano Reinaldo, 19, surrendered Friday afternoon in a police station in Puerto Rico with his lawyer and is the second person detained. They also agree the case began with the discovery of a burned vehicle containing a calcined body on Wednesday in Potrero Barrero, Itaembé Guazú. Primera Edición and Canal Doce Misiones name the first detainee as a 22-year-old (Damián C. in Canal Doce) while Eldópolis does not mention him. Primera Edición provides the most detail on the possible economic motive and states the reconstruction is a hypothesis under analysis; Canal Doce Misiones mentions a possible debt and that forensic tests are pending. Eldópolis offers the shortest account with no mention of the father, the first arrest or hypotheses.

What the reports do not say

The reports do not state whether either suspect has been formally charged or placed in pretrial detention. They do not give the exact time or circumstances of the surrender beyond it occurring in the afternoon with a lawyer present. The sources do not disclose the results of the forensic examinations on the body or the burned vehicle, nor do they confirm the exact cause of death. Next steps in the judicial process are not detailed.

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.

1. Official Crimen de Guido Rippel: se entregó el segundo sospechoso en Puerto RicoPolice sources (Police sources) · primeraedicion.com.ar · Spanish · checked Oct 9, 6:36 PM AST
2. Reporting Crimen de Guido Rippel: se entregó el segundo sospechoso en Puerto RicoPrimera Edición (Primera Edición) · primeraedicion.com.ar · Spanish · checked Oct 9, 6:36 PM AST
3. Reporting Caso Rippel: detuvieron en Puerto Rico el segundo implicado en el c...Eldópolis (Eldópolis) · eldopolis.com · Spanish · checked Oct 9, 6:36 PM AST
4. Reporting Caso Rippel: acorralado por la Policía, se entregó en Puerto Rico el segundo implicado en el crimenCanal Doce Misiones (Canal Doce Misiones) · canal12misiones.com · Spanish · checked Oct 9, 6:36 PM AST

How we checked this

Primera Edición, Eldópolis and Canal Doce Misiones all reported the surrender of the second suspect on Friday. Details on the possible motive and the hypothesis character of the reconstruction rest solely on Primera Edición while the identification of the first detainee as Damián C. appears only in Canal Doce Misiones.

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.