12
the suspects in the kidnapping of Mr. Rodríguez Marroquín.16 The identity document of José Agapito
Ruano Torres was not requested at any of these government offices.
56.
On October 12, 2000, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic indicated to the
Justice of the Peace of Tonacatepeque that “they already have […] photographs and sketches of the
places of residence of the possible perpetrators of the crime,”17 to wit: José León Pérez Alvarado, José
Orellana, José Dolores Ruano, Francisco Mejía, Samuel Hernández Ramírez, Ricardo Antonio Figueroa,
Toribio Chiquillo Rodríguez, Joaquín Rodríguez, Miguel Ángel Guzmán and Edenilson Montenegro. That
communication makes no mention of José Agapito Ruano Torres. At the same time, the Office of the
Attorney General requested that Francisco Amaya Villalta be offered a plea bargain to avoid criminal
action against him given his intention to cooperate in the investigation of the kidnapping of Mr.
Rodríguez Marroquín,18 and establishing as a condition of the deal that Francisco Amaya Villalta provide
a verbal description of Chopo in order to identify him.19 There is no record in the case file that the verbal
description was ever provided.
57.
On that same day, agents of the Criminal Investigation division of the National Civil
Police went to the city of Guaza in order to identify the person known as Chopo. In that regard, the
investigation report indicates only that “information was obtained that the nickname matches up with
the name Agapito Ruano.”20 In a later statement, the police agent in charge of the case of the
kidnapping of Mr. Rodríguez Marroquín stated that he didn’t remember the efforts undertaken to
identify the suspects of the kidnapping.21
58.
On October 13, 2000, agents of the Criminal Investigation Division of the National Civil
Police approached the Tonacatepeque municipal authorities and requested the identification document
of José Agapito Ruano Torres. Then, after inquiries with people who resided in the area, they managed
to locate his residence.22 According to the information in the case file, José Agapito Ruano Torres is 1.72
meters in height23 and, at the time, resided in the development “lotificación Monte Cristo de
Guazapa24“.
16
Annex 1. Brief of the investigator in charge of the case, José Hernández Meléndez, of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the National Civil
Police dated October 10, 2000, page 59, criminal case file 77-2001-2.
17
Annex 1. Brief of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic dated October 12, 2000, page 157, criminal case file 77-2001-
18
Annex 1. Brief of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic dated October 12, 2000, page 156, criminal case file 77-2001-
19
Annex 1. Brief of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic dated October 12, 2000, page 155, criminal case file 77-2001-
2.
2.
2.
20
Annex 1. Brief of the investigator in charge of the case, José Hernández Meléndez, of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the National Civil
Police dated October 12, 2000, page 182, criminal case file 77-2001-2.
21
Annex 2. Statement of Sergeant José Oliverio Hernández Meléndez, National Civil Police investigator and in charge of the case of
the kidnapping of Mr. Marroquín. Audio of pre-trial hearing on compact disc No. 2.
22
Annex 1. Written communication No. 169UAS. DIC.00 of the National Civil Police dated October 13, 2000, page 150, criminal case
file 77-2001-2.
23
24
Annex 1. Personal Identification Card of José Agapito Ruano Torres, page 151, criminal case file 77-2001-2.
Annex 1. Written communication No. 169UAS. DIC.00 of the National Civil Police dated October 13, 2000, page 150, criminal case
file 77-2001-2.