A discovery that shocked Montevideo
The discovery of former judge Luis Alberto Delfino in a burned-out car in Montevideo raised more questions than answers. The scene was discovered in a vacant lot near the Felipe Cardoso waste plant, in the Flor de Maroñas neighborhood, a secluded and secluded area. There, neighbors found a burned-out white Volkswagen Gol with human remains inside.
As the hours passed, the police confirmed that it was the body of Delfino, a 63-year-old lawyer who had worked as a judge until his dismissal in 2000. The case was quickly classified as a suspicious death , although it was soon confirmed that it was a homicide: the former judge had been shot in the head.
The profile of former judge Luis Delfino
Delfino came from a family with ties to the law. His father was a renowned lawyer in Montevideo, and he graduated in 1991. After a brief stint in the family firm, he joined the judiciary in 1993. There he held positions in Canelones, Pando, and Cerro Largo, until returning to Canelones in 1998.
However, his judicial career was abruptly cut short in 2000, when the Supreme Court of Justice dismissed him for multiple irregularities . The accusations included abuse of authority, misuse of gift tickets, and questionable decisions, such as the release of Brazilian fraudsters. Since then, he has dedicated himself to practicing as an independent lawyer.
Despite this blemish on his career, his family maintains that he had no known conflicts or enemies. This lack of criminal record only adds to the mystery surrounding his murder.
The day of the discovery
On August 11 , a neighbor searching the vacant lot for valuables inside the burned-out car discovered bones in the trunk. Alarmed, he notified the police.
Forensic experts confirmed that it was a human body, and shortly afterward, the license plate identified the vehicle as belonging to Delfino. The initial investigation included the hypothesis that the bones could correspond to remains used by medical students, but that possibility was immediately ruled out: the body had a gunshot wound to the skull .
The hypotheses that researchers are working on
The Police and the Prosecutor's Office are working on several lines of investigation:
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Premeditated crime and transfer of the body : It is believed that Delfino was murdered elsewhere in the city and then his body was taken to the vacant lot in an attempt to erase evidence.
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Professional reckoning : Some investigators suspect that his work as a freelance lawyer may have exposed him to risky situations.
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Robbery hypothesis ruled out : While it was initially considered a violent robbery, that theory lost ground. The fact that the car was burned indicates an intent to conceal the crime rather than to obtain material gain.
A case reminiscent of other crimes in Uruguay
This crime revives concerns about violent homicides in Uruguay and the authorities' difficulties in solving highly complex cases. The gruesome scene, with a burned-out car and human remains inside, has parallels with other criminal incidents that have dominated the security agenda in recent years.
The combination of a former judge as a victim, the brutality of the incident, and the lack of a clear motive have generated media interest that transcends Uruguayan borders.
Repercussions on society and the judicial sphere
The news caused a stir in Montevideo. Both residents and former colleagues in the judiciary expressed surprise and dismay. When contacted by the press, the Supreme Court declined to comment beyond confirming Delfino's previous dismissal.
The former judge's family, however, asserted that he had no problems with anyone and that they don't understand the reasons behind the crime. This contrast between the family's perception and the brutality of the crime further fuels the mystery.
The challenge for the Police and the Prosecutor's Office
Solving Delfino's murder represents a challenge for Uruguayan authorities , in a context in which public opinion demands greater effectiveness in criminal investigations.
Experts are working on ballistics analysis, reconstructing the vehicle's path, and searching for security cameras in the areas where it may have traveled before being abandoned. In addition, they are investigating the former judge's recent communications to determine who he met with in the days leading up to his death.
A mystery that still has no answer
The Delfino case epitomizes all the elements of a criminal mystery : a victim with a public past, a body found in gruesome conditions, and a complete lack of clarity about the motives.
Today, Uruguay is closely watching the progress of the investigation, waiting for the police and the prosecutor's office to shed light on this homicide that has shaken society and the judicial system.
