Five arrested in Ecuador for murder of university financial director

Ecuadorian authorities have apprehended five suspects and a minor in connection with the assassination of Santiago David Ávalo Páez, the financial director of the Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA). The arrests followed a Thursday, July 9th operation.

During a preliminary hearing, the State Attorney General's Office presented evidence suggesting the motive was linked to internal audits of purchase orders that Ávalo was managing. The investigation revealed that some of the arrested individuals were employees of the university.

"We presume they are colleagues... the evidence we collect today will technically verify all associative elements to identify their involvement in this violent event," stated Dinased at a press conference. The suspects include Galo Hernán O. G., the UDLA's Director of Operations, who allegedly had conflicts with Ávalo due to the audits. María del Carmen S. V. and Josselyn Lisbeth V. are accused of being co-perpetrators, while Juan Pablo G. O. and Juan Carlos G. T., both employees in the Operations Directorate, are charged as accomplices for allegedly reporting on Ávalo's movements. Security footage reportedly shows Galo O. and María S. photographing Ávalo's vehicle and the victim within the campus, with images allegedly sent from S. V.'s phone.

The alleged triggerman is a 17-year-old minor identified as Carlos E., who reportedly arrived at the university to shoot the financial director. He was allegedly accompanied by Josselyn V. Authorities seized mobile devices, computers, a motorcycle, and a firearm during searches, all of which will undergo forensic analysis. Galo O. faces charges as the alleged intellectual author, while the others face charges ranging from co-perpetrators to accomplices.

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We presume they are colleagues… the evidence we collect today will technically verify all associative elements to identify their involvement in this violent event.