The inmate, 45-year-old Valentín Lara López—who was being held at the Quezaltepeque Prison in La Libertad—died on the afternoon of Monday, March 24, while receiving medical treatment at San Rafael National Hospital in Santa Tecla.
According to his relatives, Lara López had kidney failure but was supposedly receiving medical treatment; nevertheless, they were informed that he showed signs of severe dehydration.
“We found out that he and several inmates had gone a month without water. We don’t know if it was some sort of punishment or why they did that even though they knew about his condition. His kidneys dried up,” said Brenda Lara, a relative of the victim.
According to information obtained, Lara López was originally from the canton of Garita Palmera, in San Francisco Menéndez in southern Ahuachapán. Before his arrest, he had been a soldier, worked as a security guard, and most recently earned a living as an informal vendor.
His family explained that he was imprisoned in 2003, prior to the state of exception, accused of two crimes. One was illegal possession of a firearm, while the other was not disclosed.
They added that after 22 years in prison, the family had sought a lawyer to have him placed in a social reintegration program so he could be released before completing his sentence, but they said it was not possible due to the state of exception.
“I understand that he only had two years left until his release. It would have been different if we could have treated his illness at home. We never saw him again, nor were we able to say goodbye to him,” his relative added.
She explained that they brought him personal hygiene supplies and went to the Santa Ana prison to deposit money for him. “We went to Santa Ana because it was closer for us; what we brought him varied depending on what we could collect—between $50 and $80. They used to let us bring medicines in, but ever since the state of exception, they no longer do,” the source lamented.
The family learned of his death through staff at the Quezaltepeque prison. His body was transferred to Medicina Legal (Institute of Forensic Medicine). He was buried on the afternoon of March 26.
“Nos dimos cuenta que él y varios presos estuvieron aguantando sed durante un mes”: familiares de fallecido en penal de Quezaltepeque
El privado de libertad Valentín Lara López, de 45 años, quien se encontraba recluido en el Centro Penal de Quezaltepeque, La Libertad, murió el lunes 24 de marzo por la tarde, mientras recibía atención médica en el hospital Nacional San Rafael, Santa Tecla.
Según sus familiares, Lara López estaba enfermo de insuficiencia renal, pero aseguran que recibía tratamiento médico; no obstante, fueron informados que presentaba deshidratación severa.
Nos dimos cuenta que él y varios presos estuvieron aguantando sed durante un mes, no sabemos si era algún castigo, o porqué hacían eso aún sabiendo su condición. A él se le secaron los riñones”, dijo Brenda Lara, una familiar de la víctima.
Según la información obtenida, Lara López era originario del cantón Garita Palmera, San Francisco Menéndez, Ahuachapán Sur; y hasta antes de su captura había sido soldado, trabajó como vigilante, y de último se dedicaba como vendedor informal.
Sus familiares explicaron que la víctima fue privada de libertad en el año 2003, antes del régimen de excepción, acusado por dos delitos, uno por portación ilegal de arma de fuego, el otro no lo revelaron.
Explicaron que tras 22 años en prisión, la familia buscó un abogado para lograr que lo ubicaran en un programa de reinserción social, y saliera antes de culminar la pena, pero dijeron que debido al régimen de excepción, no se pudo.
Tengo entendido que ya le quedaban dos años para salir, hubiera sido diferente poder tratarle la enfermedad desde su casa. Ya nunca más lo vimos, ni nos pudimos despedir de él”, agregó la familiar.
Explicó que le llevaban el paquete sanitario; y que acudió al penal de Santa Ana, a hacerle el depósito efectivo. “Íbamos a Santa Ana porque nos quedaba más cerca; lo que le llevaba era variado, depende de lo que podíamos recaudar, entre $50 a $80. Antes nos dejaban pasar medicinas pero desde el régimen ya no”, lamentó la fuente.
La familia recibió la noticia del deceso por parte de personal del penal de Quezaltepeque. El cadáver fue trasladado a Medicina Legal. Fue enterrado la tarde del 26 de marzo.