Brutal mastermind on the run, buried student alive
Emerging details of the kidnapping and murder of five students of Chinese descent in Chorrera reveal that one of the victims was buried alive.
La Prensa reports that Alcibiades Mendez, from the Dominican Republic made the admission during questioning.
Sources say he told the prosecution that three of the university students were shot and killed, a fourth was stabbed in the leg and shot in the face with a pellet gun.
The fifth victim was buried alive.
Mendez identified fellow countryman Fermin Antonio Taveras alias Angel Bethancourt, as the one who masterminded the kidnappings and crimes, based on previous experience in the Dominican Republic.
Mendez said the graves of the victims were opened before they were abducted.
Once kidnapped, the voices of each of the students were recorded to deliver as to their families as proof that they were alive and to facilitate payment of the ransom money.
Sources confirmed that in addition to Mendez, his girl friend and three workers who placed the tiles on the floor of the home where the bodies were buried were in custody.
They have denied links to the kidnappings and subsequent murders of
Antonio Taveras remains on the run.