Six Colombians Accused in Assassination of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Found Dead in Prison

Officials have confirmed that six Colombian individuals, apprehended for their alleged role in the murder of Ecuador’s former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, were found dead on Friday inside the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil. The authorities did not disclose further details surrounding the deaths.

The prison administration stated that the deceased prisoners were the same individuals “accused of assassinating former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.” The men were identified as Jhon Gregore R., Andrés Manuel M., Adey Fernando G., Camilo Andrés R., Sules Osmini C., and José Neyder L.

Previously, the agency indicated that an unspecified “incident had taken place” within the prison, resulting in six fatalities. Known as Ecuador’s largest correctional facility, Litoral Penitentiary has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous, having been the location of multiple riots and fatalities over the past three years.

This development occurs as the Prosecutor’s Office was nearing the end of its investigation into Villavicencio’s assassination. The 59-year-old politician was shot dead on August 9 while departing a political event. Though not considered a leading candidate, his assassination in broad daylight shook the nation and drew attention to Ecuador’s rising crime rate. Villavicencio had disclosed receiving threats from associates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, one of various international criminal organizations active in Ecuador.

The suspects in Villavicencio’s murder were apprehended just hours after the crime took place and were subsequently placed under preventive detention. Six additional individuals have also been taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in the case.

While the authorities have yet to provide details about the prison deaths, local media outlets have reported that the killings transpired in Pavilion 7 of the prison, an area said to be controlled by the local gang, Los Choneros, led by Adolfo Macías. During his election campaign, Villavicencio had publicly accused Macías of issuing threats against him.

President Guillermo Lasso, who is currently abroad, stated on the social platform X, previously known as Twitter, that he would return to Ecuador to address the crisis. “There will be neither complicity nor cover-up; the truth will be revealed,” he declared.

Meanwhile, Ecuador is preparing for a runoff presidential election on October 15, featuring the top contenders from the August election: leftist candidate Luisa González and former legislator Daniel Noboa, who is also the son of a prominent banana magnate.

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More about Assassination of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate

• Ecuadorian Official Statement on Prison Deaths
• Profile of Fernando Villavicencio
• Litoral Penitentiary: A History of Violence
• Prosecutor’s Office Update on Villavicencio Case
• President Guillermo Lasso’s Social Media Statement
• Upcoming Ecuadorian Presidential Election
• Profile of Suspected Gang Leader Adolfo Macías
• Crime Rates and Organized Crime in Ecuador
• Overview of Ecuador’s Political Landscape
• Profile of Runoff Candidates Luisa González and Daniel Noboa