15 Mr. Vargas, Gerardo’s father, asked local authorities for help to open the coffin, which was welded. After opening the coffin, they noticed that one of Gerardo’s eyes was “completely out of its socket” and one arm showed signs of burns. The family endured great suffering after opening the coffin. Gerardo’s father traveled to Brazil on January 1, 1990, to bring Dr. Ribamar Cruz e Silva to perform an autopsy on Gerardo’s body. Dr. Cruz e Silva told the family that the cause of death was a bullet and that the body was bruised, one forearm looked burnt, the head had “scratches and broken bones”, one side of the head was “bruised”, “all his teeth had been removed” and “he had a bruise on the back of his neck”; i.e., Gerardo had been tortured and had died as a result of a “shot in the chest.” On January 3, 1990, a captain from the armed forces appeared at Gerardo’s family home and explained that Gerardo had been taken to the infirmary the night of his death to be treated for nasal bleeding. After that, when leaving the infirmary, Gerardo got a thorn in his feet and ran away, crossing down the wire fence of the military post. Noticing that Gerardo would not stop, corporal 2nd class López-Insfrán “let out a rifle shot.” The family wished to know the truth about the events; therefore, they filed a complaint. Gerardo’s parents were never asked to render testimony before judicial authorities. The family considers that judicial proceedings in Paraguay were considerably delayed. Mr. Pedro Vargas, Gerardo’s father, mourned the death of his son as if “he had been ripped off his right hand.” “The suffering deep in his heart is [for him] a punishment that will never cease. He hopes he will meet his son again when he dies, as said in the Bible, but [his] pain will never end”, because he will not be able to look into his son’s eyes ever again. Gerardo’s mother was deeply affected by her son’s death. She reached the street shrieking of pain and crying after receiving the news of Gerardo’s death and fainted after opening the coffin. Gerardo was the entire world to her and she knows that nothing will bring him back. Mrs. Areco feels Gerardo “was a soldier and did not deserve the treatment he received from the State.” Gerardo’s death triggered Mrs. Areco’s illness and problems to sleep. She wants to know what really happened, “what was his mistake, […] if [Gerardo] displayed lack of respect or disobedience [towards military officers].” María Magdalena Vargas-Areco, Gerardo’s youngest sister, was 13 years old when he died. She sustained great suffering when the coffin was opened and she saw her brother’s face was “a mess.” She misses her brother a lot and she feels Gerardo was a “part” of her. Patricio Vargas-Areco was Gerardo’s older brother; he was 26 years old when Gerardo died. He feels empty and grieves over no longer having Gerardo in their lives. He was shocked after seeing his brother’s dead body in the coffin. He wants the State to give him an explanation of what happened to his brother. Doralicia Vargas-Areco, Gerardo’s older sister, was 17 years old when he died. She still thinks a lot of her brother and keeps all his photographs to be able to picture