The cause of death of Ángel Nicolás López, the four-year-old boy who died in early April in Comodoro Rivadavia, recently changed judicial hypotheses, generating strong controversy.
In this context, the child's father, Luis López, harshly questioned the shift in the investigation and denounced an attempt at cover-up.
The case took a turn after histopathological studies were incorporated, indicating that the cause of death was a respiratory illness. According to these reports, the child allegedly died from a pneumonia that led to brain failure due to lack of oxygen, which substantially alters the initial line of the case.
Initially, the preliminary autopsy had indicated the presence of a dozen internal blows to the head, which supported the hypothesis of a violent death.
The father of Ángel López.
However, with the new medical results, the Chubut Justice is now considering a possible change in the charges: from homicide to abandonment of a person resulting in death, arguing that the infectious condition had not been treated for several days.
The words of Ángel's father
In light of this scenario, Luis López outright rejected the new judicial interpretation and stated that his son had no prior health issues. “My son lived four years with me. He was a healthy child who had no respiratory problems, he never suffered from anything,” he asserted to local media after learning the content of the report.
The child's father believes that this change in the cause is not solely due to medical issues, but aims to shift the axis of responsibilities. In this regard, he was categorical: “They are trying to cover up for the murderers. They want to save the judge, the defender, the psychologist, and the social worker.”
In his argument, López insists that his son was a victim of violence and highlighted the elements that had emerged in the initial stage of the investigation. “Ángel received more than 20 blows to his head, he was doused with cold water, and he was mistreated in every way,” he stated, reinforcing his position that it was a homicide.
Angel López.
The prosecution also links the change of hypothesis to a previous complaint made against various actors in the judicial and child protection system.
In this context, the child's father and his lawyer pointed fingers at Judge Pablo Pérez, defender Verónica Roldán, psychologist Jennifer Leiva, and social worker Estela Bellido, whom they identify as responsible in the framework that led to the child's death.
Currently, the biological mother of the child, Mariela Altamirano, and her partner, Maicol González, have been detained since April 12. Both are accused, so far, of homicide, although their legal situation could change depending on the final classification adopted by the Justice.
Meanwhile, Ángel's family, along with Lorena Andrade, Luis López's partner, warned that they will not accept any potential reduction of charges. “If the prosecution wants to change it, there must be a reason, and we need to pay attention. We are going to pursue this to the end,” they expressed, making it clear that they will maintain their stance as the case progresses.
