On Monday, Carabineros and the PDI (Investigations Police) arrested the prime suspect in the murder of 20-year-old Francisca Millahual, whose body was recently discovered in Temuco. The suspect, 24-year-old Emanuel Ochoa, was apprehended in the commune of Lanco, in the Los Ríos region, following an intensive multi-day manhunt.
The suspect, who is the victim's uncle, had been on the run since the young woman's body was discovered by her own grandmother at a home in Villa Florencia, located in the southwestern sector of Temuco. According to reports from BioBioChile, the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the chin and various contusions across her body.
Religious service key to capture
The arrest was made possible thanks to public cooperation. The suspect was identified by several attendees at an evangelical church service in Lanco, who recognized the man and immediately alerted local authorities. Following his arrest, the individual was transported to the PDI's La Araucanía Police Complex.
According to BioBioChile, the suspect has already met with a defense attorney and provided a statement to the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Francisco Montecinos. The Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the detainee will appear for a detention hearing this Monday at the Temuco Guarantee Court; if the arrest is deemed lawful, he will be formally charged with the crime of femicide.
The Prosecutor's Office continues to work on the investigation to clarify the exact sequence of events, noting that the suspect had been with the young woman shortly before her death.
