No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCentral AmericaGuatemalaEx-Guatemalan Police Chief Deported from US, Faces Murder Charges

Ex-Guatemalan Police Chief Deported from US, Faces Murder Charges

The United States deported a former local police chief to Guatemala on Monday, who was involved in the homicide of two people in an indigenous village, including a Canadian, the Police reported.

“Deported and captured ex-policeman implicated in crimes against Canadian and Guatemalan,” the Guatemalan Police stated on the social network X, along with a video showing the former officer descending handcuffed from a plane at the capital’s airport.The former police chief faces charges in Guatemala for “the crimes of extrajudicial execution and forced disappearance,” they added.

Vásquez, 33, was arrested on June 11 in the town of McAllen, in the southern state of Texas, as reported at the time by the Guatemalan Interior Minister, Francisco Jiménez.The ex-officer fled to the United States after the murder two months earlier of a Guatemalan and a Canadian in the municipality of San Andrés Itzapa, about 35 km west of Guatemala City.

On April 18, in a confusing incident, the victims were detained by police in that municipality where Vásquez was the chief of the police station.The Canadian died in a hospital allegedly from a beating by the officers, while the body of the other person was found days later.

Four police officers, including two women, were also arrested for the crime of extrajudicial execution.

Trending Now

Rincón de la Vieja volcano raised to caution level after 38 eruptions

If you have a Rincón de la Vieja hike or a hot springs day trip on your calendar, the volcano's official activity level went...

Guanacaste Airport Opens Premium PURA Lounge at Liberia

The next time you fly out of Liberia, you now have somewhere to wait that isn't a gate seat. Guanacaste Airport has opened PURA...

Costa Rica’s Alondra Ortiz Wins Gold in 200-Meter Butterfly

Costa Rican swimmer Alondra Ortiz won the women’s 200-meter butterfly at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, delivering the first swimming gold medal...

Costa Rica Tourism Faces Pressure After Visitor Arrivals Fall in June

Costa Rica’s tourism industry is preparing for a more difficult second half of 2026 after international arrivals by air declined in June, ending eight...

João Fonseca Heads to Cincinnati With Expectations Rising

João Fonseca will arrive at the 2026 Cincinnati Open carrying something heavier than the enthusiasm that followed him onto the same courts last year:...

Costa Rica’s Romería Reaches Its Peak With Major Security Operation

Costa Rica’s Romería entered its busiest time today as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims began converging on Cartago under one of the country’s largest...

Costa Rica’s government and courts collide over prison rules for Diablo

A criminal court judge in Pococí has struck down part of the isolation regime the Justice Ministry imposed on Alejandro Arias Monge, the man...

Chris Hemsworth Shares Terrifying Costa Rica Flight

Chris Hemsworth has shared frightening footage from a small-plane flight during his family vacation in Costa Rica, showing lightning flashing outside the aircraft as...

Costa Rica Investigates Jaguar Pelt Seized in Heredia Raid

An apparent jaguar pelt found inside a home during raids against a violent criminal group has opened a separate wildlife investigation alongside an organized...
🌴 The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

🔒 Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel