Thursday, September 1, 2011

'So far we've nothing bad to say about the investigation,' Morón's District Attorney

In a quite contradictory press conference, Morón’s General District Attorney, Federico Nieva Woodgate, went over his earlier words about the crime of 11-year-old girl Candela Rodríguez, and stated that "so far, we have nothing bad to say about the way the investigation took course."

"Earlier this morning, the very same Woodgate had told a radio show that investigators, which of course includes him, "couldn't achieved any positive results in time."

During the days the search went on, Buenos Aires province Justice and Security Minister, Ricardo Casal, praised the efforts made by investigators and his ministry remarking that "almost 900 raids were conducted, and 2,000 policemen, 200 patrols, 2 helicopters, and 16 sniffer-dogs were put to work along with the collaboration of the National Border Patrol and Interpol to find the truth.

After nine days missing, 11-year old Candela Rodríguez was found dead in a plastic bag left by the side of the Autopista del Oeste highway only 40 blocks from her house. 

During the press conference, the attorney also stressed that "no investigation procedures can be revealed as far as speaking to the press also means to be speaking directly with the criminals."

Likewise, Woodgate confirmed during the press round that one of the main leads aim to a "abduction case", and revealed that everything is focused "on the numerous blackmailing calls received during the 9 days Candela was held", and added, "Though we could not determine whether they were related to the real kidnappers or not."

Asked about the links the victim’s father, who's currently in prison over a truck robbery, has with the world of crime, and if he had confessed the existence of enemies looking for payback, the attorney remarked “neither the victim’s family nor father said to have enemies that could possible try to harm them. Likewise, they all denied having any debts with anyone.”  

But during earlier radio conversations, the attorney considered that Rodriguez’s relatives "could have been hidden vital information as they played down a series of blackmailing calls received", and emphasized that they were working on leads aimed to "either a group of smugglers related to the Candela's father, or another of kidnappers linked to the victim's relatives, but no positive results could be achieved in time.”

Furthermore, during the same radio conversations, Nieva Woodgate was asked about the less credit the victim’s relatives gave to a very particular blackmailing call received on Monday warning the victim's mother that if she "didn't return the money" her daughter would turn up dead.

"If we take for sure the information given in that phone call, and if they [alleged kidnappers] were claiming for a debt the family was well aware of but they deny it, then it is obvious that there are people not telling the truth.”

At the time, Candela Rodriguez’s relatives downplayed the call and told investigators that it was probably made by some "malicious persons with bad intentions."