The Vigo forensic team at Imelga’s center has long faced victims of violent crimes, but the January 2021 case involving a neighbor accused in a drug trade adds a new layer to their experience. The autopsy on the neighbor of Roberto CP Chapela revealed a scene that raised important questions about how quickly a fatal outcome can unfold under specific conditions. The body showed only minor injuries, concentrated on the face, neck, arms, and legs. Some wounds were minute, with no damage to major structures such as veins, arteries, or the neck’s hyoid bone. The cause of death was clear: respiratory failure due to mechanical suffocation, achieved through a dual mechanism in which the assailant gripped the neck with an arm and pressed over the mouth. Forensic experts note that certain factors can make death occur more rapidly, even without extreme force, when the attacker can obstruct air flow in a constrained airway.
The most decisive factor, the experts say, is that the deceased had an old tracheostomy. He was eating at the moment of the attack, and the dislodging of his dental implants during the struggle also played a role. The combination of limited breathing capacity and the presence of food in the mouth created a situation in which the attacker did not need to exert excessive power for a fatal outcome. The analysis emphasizes that the tracheostomy scar on the lower neck indicates a narrowed airway. If a normal air intake hole measures about two centimeters, in this case it was reduced to roughly one centimeter. With breath already at a premium, the added burden of food and displaced dental work accelerated the process of suffocation.
Roberto CP was found lying on the floor of his home, wrists and ankles bound with tape and the mouth sealed with the same material. A red vest covered his face. The attackers approached from behind and ended the assault with a fatal strangulation. A nose injury suggested a punch, but little evidence of defense or resistance was observed. The forensic team notes the tapes appeared perfectly placed, suggesting the victim was already dead or near death when the binding was completed. If the victim had been alive, instinct would likely have driven attempts to free himself, leaving the tape impressions less tidy. This observation challenges the defendant’s claim of a later, third-person involvement and his assertion that the victim was alive when he left the scene.
On the defendant side, the forensic examinations ruled out a diagnosed mental illness. Instead, the investigators described a personality profile marked by impulsivity and suspicion, coupled with a substance use history that included cocaine and alcohol abuse. Intelligence was reported as intact, though there could be a modest reduction in self-control due to impulsivity. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the case, linking behavioral traits to the sequence of events observed during the crime.
Evidence instincts and the risk of a cover story
Some theories proposed by experts suggest that the victim being strapped at the torso with wrists bound to the abdomen could reflect a plan to move the body out of the house. There may have been initial cooperation from another person, but law enforcement officials later denied this possibility. The National Police, responsible for investigating the incident, has emphasized the ongoing nature of the inquiry and the need for careful corroboration of every detail.
The trial’s progression continues, with the conclusion expected the following day. When the popular jury delivers its verdict, the case will move from the courtroom to the public record, shaping how similar cases are interpreted in the future. Overall, the forensic observations provide a nuanced picture of how a fatal assault can unfold under specific physiological and situational factors, highlighting the role of medical history and bodily response in determining the outcome. Attribution: Forensic analyses conducted in Vigo and presented during the proceedings.