Man Found Dead in Capiatá Lot; Family Disputes Suicide Claim, Cites Threats
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The body of a 47-year-old man was found in a vacant lot in Capiatá, Paraguay, initially suspected as suicide.
- Family members dispute the suicide theory, citing prior threats against the victim and irregularities at the scene.
- Preliminary forensic findings indicate death by mechanical asphyxiation, but investigators are examining the family's claims.
The discovery of a 47-year-old man's body in a vacant lot in Capiatá, Paraguay, has sparked a police investigation amid doubts about the circumstances of his death. Hilario Domínguez was found on June 2, initially reported as a suspected suicide.
However, family members have strongly contested the suicide hypothesis. They allege that Domínguez had received prior threats and point to inconsistencies at the scene that they believe do not align with a self-inflicted death. According to Elena Brizuela, the victim's sister-in-law, a witness heard a man speaking in an intimidating tone to Domínguez shortly before his death.
Investigators are taking these claims seriously. While the initial report suggested suicide, the police chief of the 59th Central Police Station, Arnaldo Valdez, noted that the scene did not match typical hanging cases. A preliminary forensic examination concluded that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation. However, the presence of personal belongings with the body and the position in which it was found have also raised questions for investigators and family members alike.
Family members are demanding a thorough investigation, asserting that the death was not a suicide. They highlight alleged marks on the ground suggesting the body may have been dragged to the location where it was discovered. The identity of the individual allegedly seen with Domínguez before his death remains unknown, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing inquiry.
We demand that it be investigated and that something be done, because this was not a suicide.
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.