Suspect in Misiones Homicide Surrenders in Puerto Rico
Luciano Reinaldo, 19, turned himself in at a police station in Puerto Rico, Misiones, after a manhunt linked to the death of Guido Néstor Adriel Rippel, whose burned remains were found in a car.
The short version
- Portal Misiones reported that police director Hugo González announced the case of Guido Néstor Adriel Rippel homicide is solved after Luciano Reinaldo surrendered at the Comisaría Primera de Puerto Rico
- MisionesOnline reported that Reinaldo was detained in Puerto Rico and will be transferred to Posadas
- Both sources state a second suspect Damián C. 22 had already been arrested and items of interest seized
- Portal Misiones reported genetic studies are still pending to confirm the identity of the burned remains
Surrender in Puerto Rico
On Saturday, October 10, the director general of Security of the Police of Misiones, Hugo González, announced that the homicide case involving the son of a former commissioner is considered solved. Luciano Reinaldo, 19, presented himself at the Comisaría Primera de Puerto Rico with his lawyer after being a fugitive. Portal Misiones reported.
The investigation began on October 7 after burned human remains were found in a Volkswagen Polo Track in Potrero Barrero, Posadas. The victim, Guido Néstor Adriel Rippel, 20, had last been seen on October 6. Cameras and witness statements led to two suspects, one of whom was Reinaldo. MisionesOnline reported on Friday that Reinaldo had been detained in Puerto Rico and would be transferred to Posadas in the coming hours, while Portal Misiones reported on Saturday that he had already surrendered at the station there after a police cordon near the Paraná River.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Prácticamente se le ha cercado y no le quedó otra alternativa que presentarse ante la Seccional Primera de Policía de Puerto Rico para ponerse a disposición de la Justicia
Our translation: He was practically cornered and had no alternative but to present himself at the First Police Station of Puerto Rico to make himself available to justice.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Portal Misiones. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Prior Arrest and Evidence
Before Reinaldo's surrender, police had arrested Damián C., 22, in connection with the case. Items of interest were seized during raids in Posadas, including in the Chacra 129 area linked to Reinaldo. MisionesOnline reported that analysis of 911 cameras, private surveillance and testimonies helped reconstruct events. MisionesOnline reported.
The judge in charge is Fernando Luis Verón of Juzgado de Instrucción N.º 3 in Posadas. One hypothesis under investigation is that Rippel was shot before the vehicle was set on fire. A possible debt from a commercial transaction is also being examined as a potential motive, according to MisionesOnline.
Where the sources differ
Both sources agree on the basic facts: the victim is Guido Néstor Adriel Rippel, 20, son of a former commissioner; remains were found burned in a car on October 7 after he was last seen October 6; two suspects were identified with Damián C., 22, arrested earlier and Luciano Reinaldo, 19, the second suspect. Portal Misiones and MisionesOnline both note pending genetic tests. They differ on the final status of Reinaldo: MisionesOnline on October 9 reported he was detained in Puerto Rico and would be transferred to Posadas, while the October 10 Portal Misiones report states he voluntarily presented himself with a lawyer at the Puerto Rico station after a police cordon, with González announcing the case solved.
What the reports do not say
The sources do not state whether Reinaldo has been formally charged, the exact time or circumstances of his presentation at the station on October 10, the results of any luminol or other forensic tests already conducted, the current location of the second suspect Damián C., or the next judicial steps after any transfer to Posadas. No information is given on the exact cause of death beyond the hypothesis of gunfire.
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 Posadas/ Puerto Rico: cayó el sospechoso clave por el crimen del hijo de un excomisario
- Reporting Posadas/ Puerto Rico: cayó el sospechoso clave por el crimen del hijo de un excomisario
- Reporting Detuvieron al señalado como autor del crimen del hijo de un excomisario
How we checked this
Portal Misiones on October 10 provided the update on the surrender and comments from Hugo González, while MisionesOnline on October 9 supplied details on the earlier investigation, raids, cameras and the second suspect. The pending genetic identification rests on a single source in both reports.
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.