Unresolved murder of an 8-year-old boy in Puerto Rico
Lorenzo Ahmed González Cacho (November 29, 2001 – March 9, 2010) was an eight-year-old Puerto Rican boy who was murdered on March 9, 2010 in his home in Dorado, Puerto Rico. At the time of his death, his mother, Ana Cacho González, and two sisters were at the house.
The case gained notoriety in the island for the discrepancies and irregularities surrounding the crime scene, the evidence and testimonies. This led to the accusation of Ana Cacho González, the boy's mother, and three males as potential suspects by Secretary of Justice Guillermo Somoza, who took over the post after his predecessor, Antonio Sagardía, resigned to become the attorney for the boy's mother. However, on March 9, 2015, on the 5th anniversary of the murder, the Puerto Rico Justice Department announced that the accused were no longer suspects.
On March 7, 2016, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice announced that first degree murder charges would be filed against Luis Gustavo Rivera Seijo "El Manco" for the child's death. On April 28, 2016, the charges against Rivera Seijo were dropped due to lack of evidence that could prove the presence of Rivera Seijo in Cacho's residence. These charges were dropped again on June 7, 2016, in a trial on appeal.
Background.
Lorenzo González Cacho was born on November 29, 2001 to Ahmed Alí González and Ana Cacho González and was the middle child of two sisters. From an early age, González Cacho showed interest in sports, and was active in a soccer team. He was studying at Dorado Academy in his hometown. At the time of Lorenzo's death, his parents were in the process of divorcing when his sisters were approximately 13 and 5 years old.
Death.
On March 9, 2010, Ana Cacho took Lorenzo to the Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Cacho arrived between 5:00 am and 5:30 am AST with Lorenzo covered in blood; the child was later pronounced dead at the clinic. Upon questioning, Cacho claimed that her son had fallen from his bed at their home in Dorado del Mar, however, this version was discarded by the autopsy which revealed severe injuries to the face and head, which included three stabbing wounds to the face.
Suspects.
Although no charges have been filed, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice had identified six people considered suspects in the death of Lorenzo. Only Rivera Seijo was charged with obstruction.
Controversy.
The case gained widespread notoriety throughout the island when the gossip-news show "SuperXclusivo" began to closely follow it and conduct independent investigations. While following the case, a number of irregularities were alleged, among these is the crime scene, which was not secured and was immediately cleaned after it had already been seen by investigators, but before forensics could thoroughly analyze it.
Ana Cacho's father met with the governor at the time, Luis Fortuño, and handed him a mysterious envelope.
The Secretary of Justice at the time, Antonio Sagardía, resigned his post towards the end of 2009 to represent Ana Cacho as her lawyer, seen as an unethical move and expressed that she was a victim of the media.
Luis Gustavo Rivera Seijo "El Manco" was shown to have been diagnosed with mental problems and had confessed to the murder at the beginning of the investigation and several other times, sometimes retracting his confessions. According to authorities, Rivera Seijo's confessions weren't considered valid at first because they didn't add up and the claimed murder weapon was never found. On March 8, 2016, Judge Jessica Morales, determined probable cause for arrest for murder against Rivera Seijo for the death of Lorenzo González Cacho. On April 28, 2016, another judge explained the confession was full of errors and that there was lack of forensic evidence to confirm that Rivera Seijo was present at the González Cacho residence at the time of the murder. Charges of negligence, obstruction of justice and suspicion of murder against him were dropped.
References.
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