Overview

• José Agustín Cerquín Aguilar was found deceased on October 10 in the Negritos hamlet of Chanta Alta, La Encañada, after disappearing on September 27.
• Local rondas campesinas led the search, located the site, and detained two individuals connected to his motorcycle, according to official reports.
• Rondero leader Fernando Chuquilín said the detainees provided information that directed searchers to the body.
• Investigators report that cousin Jhon Brayan Vásquez, 19, gave José’s motorcycle to an 18-year-old who later went to Lima, and he later stated the bike was José’s and claimed José had been killed.
• The investigation remains open to corroborate accounts, as relatives say they traced the last phone signal near kilometer 40 toward El Tambo and lacked sufficient police support during the search.