Charges mount against disappearances suspect

The Homicide and Femicide Section of the Chiriquí Prosecutor’s Office, Friday, laid charges for sexual offense and deprivation of liberty for José Alberto Atencio, 48, for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of Astrid Tugrí, 24, on October 11, 2021, when she left Tolé in the direction of David.

This is the third indictment of charges against Atencio related to the disappearance of women in the province of Chiriquí. He will remain in jail while the investigations are concluded.

Atencio has already been charged with deprivation of liberty and aggravated robbery, after his alleged link to the disappearance of Anabel Valdivia, 28, in the province of Chiriquí on August 8, 2021, and to the detriment of Viviana Gallardo, 17 years old , reported by relatives as missing since November 9, 2021, in the David district.

Meanwhile, the Homicide and Femicide Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) of the National Police continue with the search for four missing women and where they are allegedly linked to Atencio.

Investigations are also being carried out for the disappearance of the minor Lorena Montezuma Rodríguez, 14 years old, in 2018 and it is not ruled out that the person under investigation may be linked to the case reports La Critica.