MURDER OF NICARAGUAN NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001751 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/LA AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017 TAGS: SNAR KCRM NU SUBJECT: MURDER OF NICARAGUAN NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER OBANDO ¶1. (C) Summary: Comisionado Manuel Guillermo Obando, member of the Nicaraguan National Police (NNP) Vetted Unit, an anti-drug investigation unit supported by the US Embassy Managua INL and the Drug Enforcement Administration was found murdered July 12, 2007. Two of his neighbors are under police custody as the principal suspects in the homicide, but the case remains open. At this point the Embassy does not believe that Comisionado Obando's murder resulted from his involvement with the Vetted Unit. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The last reported contact with Comisionado Obando occurred July 7, 2007, but because he was a recovering alcoholic and his birthday was July 8, he was not reported missing to DEA by head of the NNP Vetted Unit Comisionado Mayor Miguel Garcia Duarte until July 12, 2007 when his vehicle was discovered under suspicious circumstances in the Reparto Schick neighborhood. Witnesses report that at least two people left the car on the night of July 11, 2007. A citizen called the police about the vehicle on the morning of the 12th; responding police elements found the radio faceplate, spare tire and hub caps of the car were all missing. (Later, the license plates were found in the trunk.) The car itself was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. ¶3. (SBU) That evening, a body believed to be Comisionado Obando was discovered in Managua at Kilometer 8 1/2 of the New Highway to Leon. The body was found by a passer-by in a field approximately 75 yards from the road with hands and feet bound and dressed only in shorts. Based on the condition of the body, NNP believes time of death to be July 7, 2007, but besides the confirmation of identity no forensic evidence has been released. ¶4. (C) To date, NNP have not provided DEA with an official report; however, they did report to the press on July 15 that they believed Comisionado Obando had been murdered in his residence in Barrio Jose Dolores Estrada. Despite several abdominal perforations, the ultimate cause of death was loss of blood due to a stab wound to the jugular vein. Based on the sheets from the house found with the body and blood stains in the residence, police determined that the site of the murder was the victim's bedroom. The Comisionado,s cell phone, mattress, briefcase, tie, and NNP issued handgun were all missing. The other residences of the house claimed to be absent at the time of the attack. ¶5. (SBU) Two defendants, Hector Antonio Aragon-Roa, 22, and Luis Miguel Ordonez Leiva, 19, identified as the victim,s neighbors, were taken into police custody as suspects. Some of the Comisionado's missing personal effects were found in the home of defendant Hector Antonio Aragon Roa, and the defendants' subsequent confession led to the discovery of the mattress on the opposite side the highway from where Comisionado Obando's body was recovered. Police are still investigating others suspected of involvement, including Comisionado Obando,s oldest son, Guillermo Manuel Obando, with whom he had a troubled relationship. Most recently, NNP have arrested Milton Leonardo Rayo Mirando, 31, and Cristian Armando Rivas Morales, 25, who were also in possession of some of the Commisionado,s personal effects, which they claim to have received from suspects Ordonez and Aragon. ¶6. (C) The murderers' motives remain unclear and the case remains open; however, all indications support the conclusion that the homicide was not linked to Comisionado Obando's position in the Vetted Unit. The most recent NNP theory is the murder was financially and/or personally motivated. The Comisionado had three separate life-insurance policies, one for $50,000 US dollars, and two others totaling approximately $27,000 US dollars. We will report on receipt of additional information. TRIVELLI