López's son 'confident' new leads regarding his father's disappearance are real

“We’re confident these new leads are real,” Rubén López, son of disappeared Julio López, told the press after leaving a meeting he held with Buenos Aires Security Minister Ricardo Casal, adding that he hoped this new information would help clear the case investigating his father’s disappearance one and for all.

Minister Casal told Mr. López that a witness, whose identity was not revealed, had come forward with new information, assuring that he knew where the body of Julio López was buried.

“We are now going to meet with the District Attorney in order to know more about the witness’ statement. I hope this helps us close this case,” Mr. López said.

Despite having lost most of his hope, Rubén said he expected this would end an uncertainty he has lived with for the last four years.

“I hope this is over soon. Surely it will not be the happy ending we were all hoping for at the beginning. But I hope we can close the case today,” he said.

López (76), a former political prisoner who was tortured during last military dictatorship (1976-1983), was a key witness during the trial that sentenced Miguel Etchecolatz to prison for life after being found guilty of genocide.

Mr. López went missing on September 18, 2006 when he left his house in Los Hornos (La Plata) to attend the City Hall, where Etchecolatz’s trial was taking place.