Ronald Ojeda
Ronald Ojeda | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Leandro Ojeda Moreno 2 September 1991 Maracay, Venezuela |
| Disappeared | 21 February 2024 Independencia, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| Died | 21–24 February 2024 (aged 32) |
| Cause of death | Homicide by mechanical asphyxiation |
| Body discovered | Maipú, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile |
| Spouse | Josmarghy Castillo Cuberos |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Branch | Bolivarian Army of Venezuela |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Alma mater | Military Academy of Venezuela |
Ronald Leandro Ojeda Moreno (2 September 1991– disappeared 21 February 2024) was a Venezuelan former army lieutenant and political dissident who opposed the government of Nicolás Maduro.[1][2] Escaping imprisonment, Ojeda fled Venezuela in 2017 and was later granted political asylum in Chile in 2023.[2][1]
On the 21 February 2024, Ojeda was abducted from his home by individuals posing as Chilean investigative police, and was found on 1 March 2024, dismembered and buried under concrete.[2][3][4][5] The subsequent investigation by Chilean authorities suggested that Ojeda's murder was politically motivated, and was possibly orchestrated by the Venezuelan authorities with involvement from Tren de Aragua.[2][6][7]
Early life and military career
Ronald Leandro Ojeda Moreno was born on 2 September 1991 in Maracay, Venezuela to a low-income family.[1][8] Ojeda was one of seven siblings.[8] Ojeda's brother, Germán Alexander Ojeda Moreno, is a Army General in the Bolivarian Army of Venezuela.[8]
In 2008, Ojeda enrolled at the Military Academy of Venezuela and graduated as an infantry lieutenant in 2012. Ojeda later joined a special forces unit in San Cristóbal. Ojeda openly criticized the Venezuelan government, claiming to have conducted intelligence operations against high-ranking officials involved in corruption.[9]
Detention in Venezuela
Ojeda and his comrade, José Rodríguez, were repeatedly detained and accused of being part of the "Espada de Dios" conspiracy, charged with military rebellion, incitement to rebellion, and treason. Both claimed to have been tortured by the Venezuelan military counterintelligence agency. During his imprisonment at Ramo Verde Prison in Los Teques, Ojeda befriended fellow detainee Eduardo Figueroa Marchena, a former aviation lieutenant.[10]
In April 2017, Ojeda was arrested again, accused of rebellion and treason, following his involvement with the Movement for Liberty and Democracy, which rejected Nicolás Maduro as commander-in-chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.[11] Ojeda alleged that he was tortured during this detention.[11] On 30 November 2017, Ojeda and eight other officers escaped during a transfer from a military court to Ramo Verde Prison. A shootout with local police ensued, resulting in the death of one escapee, Rafael Arreaza,[12] and the severe injury of another, Luis Mogollón.[13] Five officers, including Ojeda, managed to flee to Peru and later settled in Chile.[14]
Exile in Chile
In 2018, the Maduro government issued a decree expelling 24 military officers, including Ojeda, without trial. Ojeda gained attention in November 2022 when he protested in front of La Moneda Palace in Santiago, demanding the release of political prisoners and condemning dialogue between the Maduro regime and the opposition.[11]
In November 2023, Ojeda was granted political asylum.[1][11]
Kidnapping and murder in Chile
On 21 February 2024 at 3:05 a.m five men posing as Chilean investigative police arrived outside the Ojeda family apartment in Independencia.[3][15][11][8] Presenting the doorman with a false warrant, three of the individuals entered the building wearing tactical gear.[3] Using a battering ram to gain entry to Ojeda's 14th floor apartment, Ojeda was subsequently abducted at gunpoint in front of his wife and son.[3]
His body was found on 1 March 2024, dismembered and buried in a suitcase under a concrete slab in Maipú.[16][17] Preliminary autopsy results indicated death by mechanical asphyxiation, occurring between seven and ten days prior to the discovery.[11][18]
Judicial process
The Ojeda case involved multiple arrests, extradition requests, and has had significant political and diplomatic repercussions between Chile and Venezuela.[19][20][21][22][23][24]
The investigation, led by Chilean prosecutor Héctor Barros, suggested that the crime was politically motivated and possibly orchestrated by Venezuelan authorities with the involvement of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization.[7] Two suspects, Walter Rodríguez Pérez and Maikel Villegas Rodríguez, fled to Venezuela, prompting Chile to request their extradition.[25][26]
As of July 2024, the only detainee in the case was a 17-year-old Venezuelan minor.[8][27] The Chilean Supreme Court granted a 60-day extension for the investigation.[28] Meanwhile, key suspects, including Villegas and Larry Álvarez Núñez ("Larry Changa"), were arrested in Colombia and Costa Rica, respectively, with extradition processes underway.[29] In January 2025, Barros linked the murder to a faction of the Tren de Aragua operating in Chile, implicating 16 individuals in Ojeda's killing.[30] Barros revealed that three witnesses implicated the Maduro government. One detainee alleged that Cabello ordered and financed the murder through a criminal intermediary known as El Niño Guerrero."[31][32]
Political reactions
The case strained diplomatic relations between Chile and Venezuela. Venezuelan politician Diosdado Cabello denied any involvement.[33] In January 2025 in reaction to the Chilean prosecutor's findings, Chilean Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said that Chile would appeal to the International Criminal Court if Venezuelan government involvement in the case was confirmed.[34]
Personal life
Ojeda was married to Josmarghy Castillo Cuberos, with whom he had one son.[3][8][35]
Legacy
Ojeda left behind manuscripts detailing alleged corruption within the Venezuelan military, which his family intends to publish.[36] The Venezuelan Political Persecuted Exiles Organization (Veppex) established the "Order of the Venezuelan Exile Ronald Ojeda" to honor Venezuelan exiles fighting for democracy.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Quién era Ronald Ojeda, el exmilitar venezolano secuestrado y asesinado en Chile". Cooperativa (in Spanish). Santiago. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Venezuela's Maduro Continues to Use Tren de Aragua for Transnational Repression, Kidnapping, Assassination". Human Rights Foundation. New York City: Human Rights Foundation. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Nicas, Jack; Bonnefoy, Pascale; Bartlett, John (10 February 2025). "Maduro Government Accused of Dark New Tactic: Assassinations". New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Gerlotti Slusnys, Andrés (12 April 2024). "El asesinato del exteniente Ronald Ojeda se organizó desde Venezuela, asegura Chile" (in Spanish). Madrid: ABC. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Las crecientes tensiones entre Chile y Venezuela tras el secuestro y asesinato de Ronald Ojeda, opositor del gobierno de Maduro". Univision (in Spanish). New York City. Associated Press. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Castro, Maolis (2 October 2025). "El fiscal Barros y el homicidio en Chile del disidente Ronald Ojeda: "Existen antecedentes claros que apuntan hacia Diosdado Cabello"". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ a b Sanhueza, Ana María; Montes, Rocío (3 March 2024). "El móvil del secuestro y homicidio: la principal duda del crimen en Chile contra el exmilitar venezolano Ronald Ojeda". El País Chile. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Ayala, Leslie; Carvajal Vega, José (7 July 2024). "Un crimen por encargo: prólogo del asesinato de Ronald Ojeda". La Tercera. Santiago.
- ^ "La travesía de Ronald Ojeda: el teniente (R) que estaba en la mira de la fiscalía venezolana". La Tercera. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Eduardo Figueroa Marchena (29 May 2024). "Pa' luego es tarde". El Nacional. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ronald Ojeda Moreno: el gobierno de Chile confirma el secuestro en ese país del exmilitar venezolano y alerta a Interpol". BBC Mundo. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Murió teniente Rafael Arreaza tras intentar fugarse de la cárcel de Ramo Verde". VPITV (in Spanish). 1 December 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Preso por conspiración y lanzado desde un vehículo en marcha: el caso de Mogollón Velásquez, el teniente que espera juicio hace tres años". Infobae. Venezuela. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ "La travesía de Ronald Ojeda: el teniente (R) que estaba en la mira de la fiscalía venezolana". La Tercera. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Sanhueza, Ana María (28 February 2024). "Héctor Barros: el estilo del fiscal chileno que indaga el misterioso secuestro del exmilitar venezolano Ronald Ojeda". El País. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Una llamada anónima, muerte por asfixia y un imputado delibiry las pistas del crimen de Ronal Ojeda". La Patilla. 4 March 2024.
- ^ Sanhueza, Ana María; Montes, Rocío (2 March 2024). "La Fiscalía chilena confirma el hallazgo del cuerpo del exmilitar venezolano Ronald Ojeda: estaba enterrado bajo cemento". El País. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Delgado, Felipe (4 March 2024). "Hoy formalizan a único detenido por secuestro de Ronald Ojeda: revelan que no fue asesinado a tiros". BioBioChile - La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Sanchez, Emma; Zerpa, Fabiola (12 April 2024). "Chile Points Finger at Venezuela in Case of Murdered Refugee". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Ulloa, Cristopher (4 March 2024). "Fiscalía de Chile confirma que Ronald Ojeda murió por asfixia y revela el presunto vínculo del Tren de Aragua con su asesinato y secuestro". CNN en Español. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Chile calls for the extradition of Venezuelans after dissident's murder". Al Jazeera. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Chile will ask Venezuela to extradite citizens suspected of killing an anti-Maduro dissident". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Sanhueza, Ana María; Montes, Rocíp (12 April 2024). "La Fiscalía chilena afirma que el asesinato del disidente venezolano Ojeda fue político y planificado desde Caracas". El País. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Chile: asesinato de militar venezolano sería crimen político". Deutsche Welle. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ Sanhueza, Ana María (14 April 2024). "La ruta política de Ronald Ojeda, el incómodo disidente venezolano que fue asesinado en Chile". El País Chile. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ Sanhueza, Ana María (14 April 2024). "La ruta política de Ronald Ojeda, el incómodo disidente venezolano que fue asesinado en Chile". El País Chile. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ "Caso Ronald Ojeda: PDI habría identificado a dos venezolanos involucrados en el secuestro del ex militar". Emol. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Maolis Castro (3 July 2024). "La Corte Suprema chilena acoge un recurso de amparo en favor del único detenido por el crimen de Ronald Ojeda". El País.
- ^ "Acusado por el caso de Ronald Ojeda llega a Chile extraditado de Costa Rica". El Nacional. 20 November 2024.
- ^ "Desde Julio Iglesias a "El Turko": operativo por caso de Ronald Ojeda permite detener a quien enterró al exmilitar venezolano y al líder de célula del Tren de Aragua". La Tercera. 21 January 2025.
- ^ "El testigo clave que asegura que Diosdado Cabello ordenó el crimen del militar venezolano Ronald Ojeda en Chile". El Comercio (Perú). 25 January 2025.
- ^ "Desde Julio Iglesias a "El Turko": operativo por caso de Ronald Ojeda permite detener a quien enterró al exmilitar venezolano y al líder de célula del Tren de Aragua". La Tercera. 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Diosdado Cabello insiste en que Venezuela no está involucrada en secuestro del oficial Ojeda: "Arreglen su problema allá en Chile"". NTN24. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Gobierno recurrirá a la Corte Penal Internacional si se confirma responsabilidad del régimen venezolano en muerte de Ojeda". Radio Universidad de Chile. 23 January 2025.
- ^ Castro, Maolis (17 July 2024). "La viuda de Ronald Ojeda: "Para Chile es muy difícil aceptar que ya no es un país seguro para los refugiados"". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Walter Rodriguez Perez, lÍder del secuestro, esta en la nómina de la Gobernación de Aragua. (in European Spanish), retrieved 13 March 2024