High-Risk โขInmates Recaptured โคin Copiapรณโ After Week-Long Manhunt
Table of Contents
Three inmates who escaped from the Valparaรญso Penitentiary Compliance Center over a week ago were apprehended early Saturdayโ morning in โคCopiapรณ, Chile. The capture concludes a large-scale operation involving the Public Ministry and the Carabineros’ specialized Os9 unit.
SEVASTERNS/ETOW CHILE
Details of the Arrest
According to Valparaรญso Chief Prosecutor Elizardo Tapia, the arrests took place at โ1:20 AM at Total Plaza Elโ Totoralโ in the โฃcommune of Copiapรณ. Those apprehended were identified as Claudio Fornes Vicuรฑa, Juan Gonzรกlez Quezada, and Jairo Gonzรกlez Miranda. “Today at 1:20 am in Total Plaza El Totoral in the โคcommuneโ of Copiapรณ there was the arrest of Don claudio Fornes Vicuรฑa,โข Juan Gonzรกlez Quezada and Jairoโ Gonzรกlez Miranda,” Tapia โstated. โ”These are the three individuals โคwho escaped on August 14 from the Valparaรญso โขPenitentiaryโฃ Compliance โขCenter.”
The escape and Subsequentโ Investigation
the inmates’โฃ escape on August 14th was โคremarkably audacious. They breached their cells by cutting throughโค theโข bars and utilized a makeshift zip line-constructed from materials attached to the module’s roof and a waiting โvehicle-to descend outsideโ the prison walls. โค The three were โheld in a specialized high-security module designated for inmates with a high criminal commitment
, as described by Gendarmerie officials.
the fugitives’ backgroundsโ reveal a history of violent crime. โฃJuan Gonzรกlez Quezada was serving a life sentence โขfor โthe 2022 homicide of Major Non-Commissioned Officer David Florido. Jairo Gonzรกlez Mirandaโข also faced a life sentence,โ convicted in 2019 for the murder ofโ photographer Albertina Martรญnez. Claudio Fornes Vicuรฑa was serving a three-year and one-day sentence for drug trafficking and was additionallyโ facingโฃ charges related to robbery resulting in homicide.
Investigative Efforts Leadingโข to Capture
Following theโฃ escape, a โคcomprehensive investigation was launched by the Prosecutor’s Office and Carabineros. This includedโ analysis โฃof biological evidence recovered fromโฃ the vehicle abandonedโ near the prison, and alsoโ the interception of communications linked to the fugitives. Authorities โalso conducted searches of relatives’โฃ properties and implemented increasedโ vehicularโข controls. As reported by La Tercera, these investigative โขprocedures proved crucial inโค narrowing โฃthe โขsearch area โคand ultimatelyโ leading to the arrests.โ The Prosecutor’s Office focused on tracing the inmates’ family networks,โ believing they โprovided support during their time on โthe run.
The recapture ofโค these three inmates โrepresents a significantโ victory for Chilean law enforcement and underscores the commitment to maintaining public safety. Further details regarding the โคcircumstances surrounding their escape and anyโข potential accomplices are expected to beโ released as the investigation continues.