18 74. Yelitze Moreno de Castillo was interviewed on September 10, 2003, 87 and based on the information she supplied, the CICPC made an artist’s sketch of one suspect. 88 In that interview, Yelitze Moreno de Castillo was asked if […] in the days before the above-described incident she or her husband had received any type of threat or felt that they were being followed? RESPONSE: No, the only call we received was three years ago to a cellular phone that my husband had, whose number I do not recall, where we were told not to be pajúos [slang: informers] and to stop defending human rights. My husband took the call and told me that it was a man's voice. He did not ask who he was speaking to but just said the above. [...] Please state if in his work your husband Joe Castillo ever had an important case that might have put his life or the lives of his family at risk. RESPONSE: No. […] Please state if to your knowledge in the years that you and your husband worked at the OASVAM offices there was ever any theft of materials or instruments belonging to that institution? RESPONSE: Not as far as I know.89 75. On September 11, 2003, the CICPC carried out a number of inquiries to verify the information received on September 10, 2003, by Assistant Chief Rafael Viloria. The investigators managed to obtain more details about the ownership of the vehicle reportedly used by the persons allegedly involved in the murder of Joe Luis Castillo González. Accordingly they mounted a surveillance operation on the vehicle and saw three individuals get into it; 90 however, the individuals were not identified. On September 16, 2003, a forensic examination was made of the aforesaid vehicle and it was found that the security and chassis serial numbers were false.91 However, the record in the possession of the Commission does not suggest that any additional procedures were carried out. 76. In the course of the investigations the CICPC took statements from an alleged member of a paramilitary group called Emer Humberto Terán (or Román) and the national guardsman Edgar Alfonso González. Emer Humberto Terán (or Román) told the Investigations Chief of Machiques CICPC, […] all I can say is that the guerrillas are never going to be legalized. That man was on our target list […] in all, there are around 20 persons on the list who are elimination targets because they were opposed to honest people in the cattle ranching business in the area […] the mayor of this city [Machiques] is knows about their presence as do several leaders of Gadema [Machiques Cattle Ranchers] […] their main contacts are with an intelligence unit in the National Guard in this area. 92 Edgar Alfonso González also referred to Emer Humberto Terán (or Román) and said [...] these guys are paracos [a slang term for paramilitaries] hired by various cattle ranchers in the area; the mayor [...] knows about it, and in fact and his drivers ferry those guys to and from different places; 87 Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, Office of the 83rd Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of Metropolitan Caracas, interview with Yelitze Lisbeth Moreno Cova, September 10, 2003, pp. 101-106. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State. 88 Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, artist’s sketch, September 10, 2003, p. 100. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State. 89 Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, Office of the 83rd Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of Metropolitan Caracas, interview with Yelitze Lisbeth Moreno Cova, September 10, 2003, pp. 103 and 105. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State. 90 Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, police reports, September 11, 2003, pp. 84-88. Annexes to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State. “We spotted the aforementioned vehicle and, therefore, decided to set up surveillance in order to see who got into it. After two hours we saw three adult males climb into the vehicle and set off to an unknown destination.” 91 Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, imprint of vehicle, September 16, 2003, pp. 91-93. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State. 92 CICPC Investigation Report, September 15, 2003. Petitioners’ brief on merits received at the IACHR on July 13, 2007. Not contested by the State.