74.
That same day, the visual inspection of the apartment where Linda López was rescued was
carried out and recorded by four officials with the Chacao Police Station under the National Directorate of
Criminal Investigations.65 They noted the following with regard to the main bedroom:
[...] Everything is in disarray, on the bed is a sheet, a comforter, a strip of cloth, made of
cotton with stripes, colors: blue, white, and pink, two pillows, a black pair of underwear, with
dark red and yellow stains, and a blue wrapper made of synthetic material containing plant
and seed remains, presumably drugs, […] There is a bag made of synthetic material, black,
brand ATLANTIC, containing personal objects, six cigarette butts with the remains of a white
powder, presumably drugs, and a rudimentary pipe, made of metal, [… at the far left in the
bathroom] is a closet, wooden, containing a pair of black handcuffs, brand “FURY.”66
75.
With regard to the “living room area and balcony,” the report only states that it contains “a
variety of furniture,” including “a desk with a computer and printer, with a synthetic envelope in one of its
drawers, yellow, containing plant remains presumed to be drugs and printed pornographic material,
reactives were not used due to the characteristics of the case.”67 The notes on the photographs attached to the
visual inspection report found in the case file before the IACHR indicate that: i) in the living room there was a
“coffee table” (various objects can be seen on the table that are not described on the photographs or in the
report); ii) on the floor “a sound system and two (2) bottles of whiskey inside the apartment” (at least one
additional object can be seen and photographed that is not described in the notes); and iii) on the floor of the
living room “various equipment” without specification and “sheets containing pornography inside the
apartment.” The next photographs depict a “desk with several drawers, with various sheets of paper on top
with [illegible] pornographic,” a “bag with plant remains” in a drawer, “a sheet of paper with a pornographic
depiction and some manuscripts,” “a pair of handcuffs,” “a bed with a comforter and two pillows, with stains
from a substance dark red in color [...].” Finally, there is a picture of Linda Loaiza López at the moment of her
rescue and while she was still in the apartment, in which at least six officials can be seen to be present.68
76.
The officials who were present while this was being carried out stated later during the trial
that they saw other evidence in the apartment, such as a bullet69 and, in the living room, a “liquor bottle,
green, with a black cap.”70 Agent Juan Manuel Guzmán Rivas indicated that the sheets in the room “were dirty,
with dark red stains, the mattress also had dark red stains,” and that there were spots on the bedroom wall
and on a piece of furniture.71 He also stated that “these objects were transferred to the microanalysis
65 Visual Inspection No. 048. Case related to the procedural documents F-935.981. Place: Calle Sojo, residencias 27, piso 2,
apto. 2-A, el Rosal. Carried out by Deputy Inspector Hernan Rodríguez, Detective Ignacio González, Detective Juan Guzmán, Detective
Ernesto Gonzáles. Brief from the State, October 22, 2014, pg. 8.
66 Annex 4. Decision of the Twentieth First Instance Trial Tribunal of the Caracas Metropolitan Area. Case No. 20.-253.
November 5, 2004. Visual Inspection No. 048 dated July 19, 2001, pgs. 141-142. Annex D of the brief from the petitioners, July 14, 2009.
67 Annex 4. Decision of the Twentieth First Instance Trial Tribunal of the Caracas Metropolitan Area. Case No. 20.-253.
November 5, 2004. Visual Inspection No. 048 dated July 19, 2001, pgs. 141-142. Annex D of the brief from the petitioners, July 14, 2009.
68 Annex 28. Visual Inspection No. 048. Case related to the procedural documents F-935.981. Place: Calle Sojo, residencias 27,
piso 2, apto. 2-A, el Rosal. Photographs 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11 and 12. Annex A-8 of the brief from the petitioners, July 14,
2009;
69 Annex 4. Decision of the Twentieth First Instance Trial Tribunal of the Caracas Metropolitan Area. Case No. 20.-253.
November 5, 2004. Statement of Officer Giovanny José Chicco Salas, pg. 130. Annex D of the brief from the petitioners, July 14, 2009.
70 Annex 4. Decision of the Twentieth First Instance Trial Tribunal of the Caracas Metropolitan Area. Case No. 20.-253.
November 5, 2004, Manuel Guzmán Rivas from the Scientific, Criminal, and Forensic Investigations Unit, pg. 135. Annex D of the brief
from the petitioners, July 14, 2009.
71 Annex 6. Decision of the Seventh First Instance Trial Tribunal of the Caracas Metropolitan Area. Case File No. 313-05. May
22, 2006. Statement of Officer Manuel Guzmán Rivas from the Scientific, Criminal, and Forensic Investigations Unit, pgs. 56-57. Annex E
of the brief from the petitioners, July 14, 2009. For his part, Officer Luis Ignacio González stated that there were also “traces of a hematic
nature […] on the bed and some pillows.” Annex 4. Decision of the Twentieth First Instance Trial Tribunal of the Caracas Metropolitan
Area. Case No. 20.-253. November 5, 2004. Statement of Officer Luis Ignacio González from the Scientific, Criminal, and Forensic
Investigations Unit, pgs. 139. Annex D of the brief from the petitioners, July 14, 2009.