Chilean police (Carabineros) arrested 27-year-old Haitian national Víctor Thiany in the town of Melipilla. He stands accused of the murder of merchant María Leonor Valdebenito in Quinta Normal.
The operation was carried out by the Carabineros' specialized OS9 unit on Monday afternoon. The suspect had been a fugitive after fleeing the crime scene with the victim's belongings.
According to reports from BioBioChile, the crime was discovered on April 1st. The daughters of the 66-year-old victim went to their mother's home after they had not heard from her since the previous day.
Upon entering the house, the family found the woman deceased, showing clear signs of having been murdered. The incident has shocked the Quinta Normal community.
Motive for the crime
Preliminary investigations suggest the attack was motivated by robbery. According to information provided by Cooperativa RSS, the accused allegedly attacked the woman to steal her work van and the merchandise she sold.
Thiany had a professional connection to the victim, as he had been hired by Valdebenito to work at a clothing stall in a local flea market. Security cameras in the area captured the suspect fleeing the residence on March 31st.
The footage shows the man escaping with the victim's belongings and the vehicle used for her business. After nearly two weeks of searching, police located him in the Melipilla area.
The detainee is scheduled to appear in court this Tuesday for a formalization hearing on charges of robbery resulting in homicide. The court will determine the precautionary measures for the case's primary suspect.
