Published on •Updated
The Dominican Republic’s National Police has identified the four suspects in the attack on the home of merengue singer Gilberto Julián Sarante, known as Julián Oro Duro, in which his wife, 60-year-old Zeneida Socorro Castillo, was killed and the singer was seriously injured. All four suspects are already in custody.
Those arrested are Phillips Michael Tejeda Vásquez; Juan Carlos Hernández García, known as Peña; Kevin Dariel Germán Troncoso, known as Yandel, 23; and Lawrence Mark Liranzo Marcos, known as Chiquito, 18. The latter was detained after an active search by the police. According to investigators, all four had working or trusted links with the artist’s entourage.
Tejeda Vásquez worked as an air-conditioning technician and carried out private jobs at properties belonging to Julián Oro Duro. The investigation suggests that he may have contacted the other suspects. Liranzo Marcos, for his part, knew the family and worked at a villa the singer was having built in Guerra.
The attack took place on 21 September, when the artist returned to his home in Brisa Oriental VI, in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, and was ambushed by the assailants after his wife had been held for hours. According to the investigation, Castillo was tortured for several hours before being killed.
The singer suffered traumatic head injuries during the attack and is still recovering. The police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office are continuing to gather evidence about the crime. The case has caused widespread shock in the Dominican Republic.