42 population,”221 mentioning as the most serious instance, the incident of the village of La Esperanza because “the alleged involvement of members of the army can be deduced” in the disappearances.222 133. On July 17, 1996, the Sectional Unit of the Office of the Attorney General of El Carmen de Viboral was delegated to conduct the investigation.223 On August 1 and 2, 1996, the special investigation section of the Attorney General’s Office went to the area. The following excerpts appeared in its August 15, 1996 report: i) “apparently there was involvement in one way or another of the national army;” ii) the witnesses recognized the makes of the vehicles that those responsible for the crimes were traveling in; iii) there was evidence of “destroying the house of Eliseo Gallego, theft of several items and injury to Juan Carlos” and, consequently, they noted that “photographs of the state in which the residence was left would be forwarded in due time;” and iv) it was suggested to commission a group of investigators which, under the direction of a prosecutor, could conduct any investigatory work aimed at clarifying the facts.224 134. On September 4, 1996, the family members requested the UNDH [National Human Rights Unit] to take over the investigation,225 but on October 9, 1996 the UNDH delegated the investigation to a Prosecuting Attorney assigned to the Regional Courts of Medellín.226 135. On November 27, 1996, the Technical Investigation Corps issued a report stating that: i) a crime scene search was conducted on the residence of Eliseo Gallego, where bullet shells and bags used by the army marked with their logos were gathered, and this evidence remained in the custody of the Office of the Inspector General of the Nation;227 and ii) municipal ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, Heli Gómez Osorio, was murdered on July 26, 1996.”228 Regarding this crime, the Commission has an official letter from the Human Rights Delegate of the Office of the Inspector General of the 221 Annex 53. Evaluation Report. Visit to the Municipality of El Carmen de Viboral, by the Directorate of Special Investigations – Sectional Office of Antioquia, dated July 17, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007. 222 Annex 53. Evaluation Report. Visit to the Municipality of El Carmen de Viboral, by the Directorate of Special Investigations – Sectional Office of Antioquia, dated July 17, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007. 223 Annex 10. Official Letter of the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, dated August 23, 2000. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 3A. Pages 136-140. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999. 224 Annex 26. Report No. 047-2551-2560-032-FGN-DR-CTI-SIE, dated August 15, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of October 5, 2000. 225 Annex 54. Letter of Corporación Jurídica Libertad to the National Director of Offices of the Attorney General, dated April 4, 1997. Annex to petitioners’ submission received in the IACHR on February 1, 2007. 226 Annex 10. Official Letter of the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, dated August 23, 2000. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 3A. Pages 136-140. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999. 227 Annex 49. Report No. 084, File No. 21.005 of the Regional Directorate of the Technical Investigation Corps of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 27, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007. The conclusions of this crime scene search and the evidence collected therein were corroborated by several different witnesses, including María Engracia Hernández Quintero and Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández. 228 Annex 49. Report No. 084, File No. 21.005 of the Regional Directorate of the Technical Investigation Corps of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 27, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007.