The Cuban who was murdered and dismembered in Soria, Spain, has been identified as Jorge Luis Pérez Ochandarena.
The case has gone viral in recent hours across the Iberian nation due to the significance of a Google Street View photo in solving the crime.
The image in question captured the moment when the alleged murderer had the remains of the Cuban in the trunk of his burgundy Land Rover. The images date back to October of this year.
Pérez Ochandarena arrived in Spain in January 2023, and his trail went cold on November 7 of that same year.
The flyer seeking assistance for his location indicated that he was 32 years old when he went missing, had a stocky build, stood 1.75 meters tall, and weighed 120 kilograms.
Such signs must have complicated the perpetrator's task of disposing of the body, which he dismembered, and so far only the torso has been found buried in the cemetery of Andaluz, a tiny village with very few inhabitants in the province of Soria.
Two detainees and many questions
As a result of the investigation, two individuals were arrested in the province of Soria in November of this year: a woman of Cuban nationality and a man originally from Soria, whose identities have not been officially disclosed.
However, it is known that the man's name is "Manuel." The individual has refused to cooperate with the police, who continue to search for the remaining remains of the victim.
The exact relationship between the three individuals involved remains unclear.
Spanish media initially reported that both Cubans were married, and that the woman had arrived in Spain before the victim. It was suggested that the Spanish man was her lover, and this was believed to be the alleged motive for the crime: jealousy and a love triangle with a fatal outcome.
However, a statement released this Wednesday by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior does not present the story in this way.
"On November 12, agents moved to two towns in Soria, where they arrested a woman, the partner of the missing person, and a man, who had been the partner of the arrested woman, as suspected perpetrators of an aggravated crime of unlawful detention for failing to provide information about the whereabouts of the missing person," the statement indicates.
However, it is known that the man is named "Manuel." The individual has refused to cooperate with the police, who continue to search for the remaining remains of the victim.
"He had been in Spain since around January 2023, and she had been living there for quite some time. The investigation is trying to determine the nature of their relationship," authorities in charge of the investigation stated during a press conference on Wednesday.
Progress of the investigation
Once the perimeter was secured around the more limited area of the deceased, two searches were conducted at the homes of those now detained, as well as a technical-police inspection of the vehicles, during which relevant evidence for the investigation was found.
Following that, on November 14, it was ordered that both individuals be provisionally detained.
At this stage of the investigation, once the detainees were in prison and the bulk of the evidence and leads had been gathered, the focus turned to locating the missing person.
On December 11, a human torso in an advanced state of decomposition was discovered buried beneath the ground of a cemetery in a town in Soria. Pending definitive identification, it may correspond to a missing person.
The human remains found were transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Soria.
Background: The Disappearance
Little is known about the life of Jorge Luis Pérez Ochandarena from the time he arrived in Spain until his disappearance.
A cousin, who lives in Zaragoza and with whom I had regular contact, was the one who reported the disappearance to the authorities after receiving suspicious messages via WhatsApp. He also sought help through social media.
In the messages received by the family member, Jorge Luis Pérez mentioned that he had met a girl, that he was leaving Soria, and that he would no longer have that phone.
It was out of suspicion that something was amiss that the victim's cousin contacted the police. A year later, the story has taken a bewildering turn with a very tragic ending for Jorge Luis Pérez.
The National Police emphasized this Wednesday that this case has been resolved thanks to meticulous work and the support of neighbors from the towns of Tajueco and Andaluz, as well as the trust of the family of the missing person.
The case remains under investigation, and it is expected that in the coming days, the threads of a very sinister plot will continue to unravel.
Frequently asked questions about the murder of the Cuban in Soria
How was the murder of the Cuban in Soria resolved?
The case was resolved thanks to an image from Google Street View that captured the alleged murderer placing a suspicious bag in the trunk of a car. This evidence was crucial for the police to focus their suspicions on the victim's wife's lover, known as "The Wolf of Tajueco."
Who was the victim of the murder in Soria?
The victim was identified as Jorge Luis Pérez Ochandarena, a 32-year-old Cuban who had arrived in Spain in January 2023. His disappearance was reported in November of that same year, and his torso was found in the Andaluz cemetery in Soria.
Who are the main suspects in the murder of the Cuban in Soria?
The main suspects are the victim's wife and her lover, known as "The Wolf of Tajueco." Both have been arrested and are in provisional detention as presumed perpetrators of the crime, which is believed to have a passionate motive related to a love triangle.
Where were the remains of Jorge Luis Pérez Ochandarena found?
The remains of Jorge Luis Pérez Ochandarena were found in the cemetery of Andaluz, a small town in the province of Soria, Spain. The discovery included parts of his body that were buried, although not all of the limbs have been located.
What motivated the murder of the Cuban in Soria?
The murder was motivated by a love triangle. The victim discovered that his wife was having an affair with another man, which allegedly triggered the murder, supposedly planned and carried out between the wife and her lover.
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