LOS VICTIMARIOS

In the photographic series Los Victimarios, I present twelve notorious cases of violent crimes that occurred on the island of Puerto Rico, beginning with the disappearance of Rolandito in 1999 until the femicide of Andrea Ruiz in 2021. In each image, I invite the audience to observe a possible scene of the crime, as described by the local news media, in which we see the perpetrator, but not the victim.

Photographer
Alfredo Maldonado

Year
2020-2021

Software
Photoshop, Lightroom, Google Sheets

34-year-old Arellys Mercado. She was murdered on August 18, 2019, at the Villa Marina Boulevard dock in Fajardo with a shot in the neck. The perpetrator was released after providing an initial bail of $300,000, and was later admitted to prison after not being able to pay the new bail of $1.1 million. The hearings in this case have been public, and the crime continues to go unpunished.

Arellys Mercado

34-year-old Arellys Mercado. She was murdered on August 18, 2019, at the Villa Marina Boulevard dock in Fajardo with a shot in the neck. The perpetrator was released after providing an initial bail of $300,000, and was later admitted to prison after not being able to pay the new bail of $1.1 million. The hearings in this case have been public, and the crime continues to go unpunished.

2-year-old Dylan Caleb Vega. He was found dead in the Patagonia River on September 21, 2020, in Humacao. He was the victim of a pattern of mistreatment by his parents that eventually led to his death.

Dylan Caleb Vega

2-year-old Dylan Caleb Vega. He was found dead in the Patagonia River on September 21, 2020, in Humacao. He was the victim of a pattern of mistreatment by his parents that eventually led to his death.

35-year-old Andrea Ruiz. She was found burned on the side of a highway in Cayey on April 28, 2021. The day before, she went to the authorities in Puerto Rico to report that her ex-partner had violated her asking for her protection and she was denied. She on multiple occasions sought help from the State to protect herself from her, and yet, she was left to her fate with "the love of her life."

Andrea Ruiz

35-year-old Andrea Ruiz. She was found burned on the side of a highway in Cayey on April 28, 2021. The day before, she went to the authorities in Puerto Rico to report that her ex-partner had violated her asking for her protection and she was denied. She on multiple occasions sought help from the State to protect herself from her, and yet, she was left to her fate with "the love of her life."

Rosimar Rodríguez Gómez, 20 years old. She was kidnapped and murdered on September 17, 2020. After being forced into a vehicle, she was taken to a road in the municipality of Dorado, where she received gunshot wounds. Her body was found in a pasture.

Rosimar Rodríguez Gómez

Rosimar Rodríguez Gómez, 20 years old. She was kidnapped and murdered on September 17, 2020. After being forced into a vehicle, she was taken to a road in the municipality of Dorado, where she received gunshot wounds. Her body was found in a pasture.

Lorenzo Cacho, 8 years old. Killed in his home on March 9, 2010, in Dorado. He was beaten and wounded to death. Whoever committed the crime has yet to be brought to justice, and the case remains unsolved.

Lorenzo Cacho

Lorenzo Cacho, 8 years old. Killed in his home on March 9, 2010, in Dorado. He was beaten and wounded to death. Whoever committed the crime has yet to be brought to justice, and the case remains unsolved.

38-year-old Ivania Zayas. Run over while trying to cross Avenida 65 de Infantería by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene on February 8, 2015, in Río Piedras. The person responsible was not imprisoned, he only served house arrest for 3 years. The details of this case gave rise to the social movement in the networks “Walking alone”.

Ivania Zayas

38-year-old Ivania Zayas. Run over while trying to cross Avenida 65 de Infantería by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene on February 8, 2015, in Río Piedras. The person responsible was not imprisoned, he only served house arrest for 3 years. The details of this case gave rise to the social movement in the networks “Walking alone”.

Rolandito Salas Jusino, 4 years old. He disappeared on July 7, 1999, while playing in the park of his development in Toa Alta. Today May 20, 2021, marks more than two decades since his disappearance, a case that has marked the lives of all families in Puerto Rico.

Rolandito Salas Jusino

Rolandito Salas Jusino, 4 years old. He disappeared on July 7, 1999, while playing in the park of his development in Toa Alta. Today May 20, 2021, marks more than two decades since his disappearance, a case that has marked the lives of all families in Puerto Rico.

Isadora Nieves Cruz, popularly known as Pinky Curvy, 24 years old. She was murdered on October 17, 2020, in her truck in front of a commercial premises with a burst of bullets that hit the vehicle in which she was, causing her death. Her case appears to be part of a larger investigation and remains unsolved.

Isadora Nieves Cruz

Isadora Nieves Cruz, popularly known as Pinky Curvy, 24 years old. She was murdered on October 17, 2020, in her truck in front of a commercial premises with a burst of bullets that hit the vehicle in which she was, causing her death. Her case appears to be part of a larger investigation and remains unsolved.

Carvic Geraldo Otero Laboy, 36 years old. Kidnapped in the parking lot of his business at the intersection of Las Américas and Hostos Avenues. His body was found with gunshot wounds and with his hands tied, holding a paper that read “brother for brother” on March 31, 2021, in the municipality of Ponce.

Carvic Geraldo Otero Laboy

Carvic Geraldo Otero Laboy, 36 years old. Kidnapped in the parking lot of his business at the intersection of Las Américas and Hostos Avenues. His body was found with gunshot wounds and with his hands tied, holding a paper that read “brother for brother” on March 31, 2021, in the municipality of Ponce.

23-year-old Valerie Ann Almodóvar. Killed on December 17, 2018, in Adjuntas, Garzas neighborhood with a knife. Her body was dumped in a black plastic bag on the side of the road. An alleged perpetrator awaits his turn on trial in this case.

Valerie Ann Almodóvar

23-year-old Valerie Ann Almodóvar. Killed on December 17, 2018, in Adjuntas, Garzas neighborhood with a knife. Her body was dumped in a black plastic bag on the side of the road. An alleged perpetrator awaits his turn on trial in this case.

28-year-old Alexa Negrón Luciano / Neulisa Luciano Ruiz. Transgender woman murdered, riddled with 12 bullets on Highway 165 in Toa Baja on her birthday on February 24, 2020. Her murder generated an unusual wave calling for an investigation as a "hate crime" and an act of "violence against women. "

Alexa Negrón Luciano

28-year-old Alexa Negrón Luciano / Neulisa Luciano Ruiz. Transgender woman murdered, riddled with 12 bullets on Highway 165 in Toa Baja on her birthday on February 24, 2020. Her murder generated an unusual wave calling for an investigation as a "hate crime" and an act of "violence against women. "

Bryan Ramos Torres, 41 years old. He was hit by a bat in different parts of the body causing the death of him on November 23, 2020 at La Pared de Luquillo beach at 5:00 pm. An out-of-control fight took the lives of two Puerto Ricans.

Bryan Ramos Torres

Bryan Ramos Torres, 41 years old. He was hit by a bat in different parts of the body causing the death of him on November 23, 2020 at La Pared de Luquillo beach at 5:00 pm. An out-of-control fight took the lives of two Puerto Ricans.

GALLERY INSPIRATION

The kill

The kill

Car accident

Car Accident

Murder

Murder

Kitchen mess

Kitchen mess