Jeremías Ávila Dilbert arrested for murder of protected witness in Honduras

Honduran authorities have arrested Jeremías Ávila Dilbert, a suspect in the August 17, 2026, killing of attorney Dereck Isaac McNeil James in Roatán, Islas de la Bahía. McNeil was a protected witness in the ongoing investigation regarding the disappearance of Angie Peña.

McNeil was shot while driving his vehicle shortly after dropping his son off at school. The case has raised significant national concern regarding the effectiveness of witness protection protocols, especially following reports suggesting that the victim's identity and protected status may have been leaked prior to the attack.

Ávila Dilbert, who was apprehended in La Ceiba, has denied involvement, claiming he was in Roatán at the time of the crime. However, police noted that the suspect has a prior criminal record dating back to 2018, involving allegations of drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons. The Public Ministry is preparing formal charges to request pretrial detention as investigations continue to identify other potential accomplices.