Honduras: Family of Angie Peña disputes ATIC investigation claims

The family of Angie Peña, who has been missing since 2022, has publicly challenged the Technical Agency for Criminal Investigation (ATIC) regarding the handling of her case. While ATIC Director Ángel Murillo Paz claimed the agency is not currently managing any files related to Peña, her family asserts they possess evidence of the agency's involvement, including official documents, communications, and the handover of Peña's cell phone.

The family also cited testimony from a protected witness, Derek McNeil, who alleged that police agents and ATIC officials may have links to organized crime. They have called upon Attorney General Pablo Emilio Reyes Theodore to intervene and review the available evidence.

These developments occur amidst a broader crisis of disappearances in Honduras. Recent cases include the disappearance of 18 crew members from the vessel ‘Lucky Lady’ in July 2025 and a fisherman near the Bay Islands. Families of the missing continue to report a lack of official information and state indifference, drawing comparisons to the era of impunity seen in the 1980s.