LA PLATA — 2006 · Missing Person
The Disappearance of Witness Jorge Julio López
Jorge Julio López, a retired bricklayer who had been abducted and held in secret detention centres under the military dictatorship (1976-1983), was a key witness in the trial of a former police chief for crimes of that era. In September 2006 the 77-year-old left his home in La Plata to attend the hearing where the verdict was due and vanished. The next day the defendant and others were sentenced to life imprisonment. Remembered as the first person 'disappeared again' after the return of democracy, López's fate has been unknown for nearly two decades. The case sparked mass protests in Argentina and raised serious questions about witness protection.
- Date
- 2006
- Place
- Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, La Plata, AR
- Category
- Missing Person
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- -34.9214, -57.9545 ↗
Timeline of Events
- Dictatorship eraLópez was abducted and held in secret detention centres.
- 2006He testified as a key witness against a former police chief.
- 18 September 2006He left home for the verdict hearing and disappeared.
- 19 September 2006The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment.
- October 2014The convict writing López's name on a paper in court reignited debate.
Sources
- Página/12 — Jorge Julio López (2006) pagina12.com.ar ↗
- Infobae — Etchecolatz escribió 'Jorge Julio López' en un papel infobae.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Jorge Julio López en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Página/12
- Infobae
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.