There are more questions than answers in the death of 16-year old Esmeralda Richiez. The main suspect in the case is a 35-year old John Kelly Martinez, her professor at the Instituto Agropecuario de Higuey (Politécnico de la Cruz) in La Otra Banda in La Altagracia province. The defense lawyer nevertheless, calls for attention to be paid to the statements made by one of three minors that had accompanied the deceased on that fatal evening. The defense lawyer says the authorities should investigate others that he says are more responsible than the professor.
Over the weekend, the media reported that in addition to signs of violent sex, the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) audit revealed that the teenager showed multiple signs of bodily physical aggression in several parts of her body. The autopsy determined she had died of hypovolemic shock. The autopsy does not deny nor confirm whether Richiez was pregnant. In an audio that has circulated on social media, a classmate says that Richiez was pregnant, indicating the professor had given her abortion pills.
Over the weekend, the media reported that the professor is married and two of his children study at the same polytechnic where Richiez studied, including a daughter of an age similar to that of the deceased.
Audios of friends of Richiez, and an aunt, lead to speculation the girl was pregnant and had died of an abortion gone wrong.
The parents, Eligio and Isabel Richiez reported finding the child dead in her bathroom in the morning. Most investigations reveal that the girl could have been saved if she had received medical attention on time.
Regarding the case, the Public Prosecutor’s Office established in its file that on the night of Sunday, 12 February 2023, Esmeralda Richiez was raped by her teacher John Kelly Martinez while they were alone, inside the car in which they traveled to the beach with three friends and another adult. Somos Pueblo TV says that the other adult is Rubiel Morrillo Martinez, a 20-year old son of a sister of the professor. He is accused of being an accomplice and of hiding the heavily bled pants that Richiez had been wearing when she went out.
Judge Francis Reyes Diloné set the hearing for Monday, 20 February 2023 in Higuey. Inacif has recommended an in depth investigation into the crime.
The professor was suspended from his job for 90 days without wages. Education Minister Angel Hernandez said he was embarrassed and that the judiciary should do its job. Students at the Higuey school say they were surprised by the happenings and that the mathematics and physical education teacher had always acted correctly and with a service attitude to the students. Nevertheless, an aunt of Richiez said that the professor actively participated in social activities with the students.
In 2022, when she was 15 years old, Esmeralda Richiez had posted a Tik Tok video where she stated that to receive flowers for Valentine’s Day, she would have to die on 13 February. She died on 13 February 2023.
Hoy reports on an error in the naming of the accused in the prosecution file that could delay the pre-trial hearing.
Read more in Spanish:
Nuria Investigacion
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Hoy
N Digital
N Digital
N Digital
N Digital
Hoy
Hoy
Hoy
Hoy
Somos Pueblo TV
Noticias SIN
Noticias SIN
Chala TV
20 February 2023