The Vega. The La Vega prosecutor’s office is treating the death of Gabriel González Acosta, 20 years old, as a hate crime, for which a soldier is linked.
The head prosecutor of La Vega, Aura Luz García, reported that in a joint effort between the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the criminal investigation team and the medical examiner, a corpse in an advanced state of decomposition was removed today.
The body was found in Nigua, a community nestled between the municipalities of Jarabacoa and Constanza, wearing clothing that matches that worn by Gabriel González Acosta, a young man from the LGBT+ community, who was kidnapped and disappeared several days ago in circumstances that have caused great consternation in the community.
González Acosta’s relatives accuse the National Army lieutenant, Jonathan Santos Muñoz, of the crime. They say that he recognized the body by the clothes he was wearing and by a tattoo.
Initial investigations indicate that, both based on the clothing found on the body and the chrono-anatological analysis, it is presumed that it could be Gabriel Acosta.
However, this preliminary identification must be confirmed by the autopsy and forensic studies of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF).
MP considers it a hate crime
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has stressed that the characteristics of the case suggest that it could be a hate crime motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. This fact, if confirmed, will accentuate the seriousness of the crime, adding an element of discriminatory violence.
The La Vega prosecutor’s office is committed to carrying out a thorough investigation to clarify the facts and ensure that justice is done. Citizens are called upon to remain calm and respect the ongoing legal proceedings, as well as the memory of the victim.
