Lenin Núñez de León appeals detention in murder case

Lenin Jhericop Núñez de León was arrested at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) upon his arrival from Miami. He is the primary suspect in the death of Enmanuel Contrera Medina, an incident that occurred on July 1 in the Los Praditos sector of the National District.

The Public Ministry alleges that after Contrera Medina transferred RD$15,000 for an iPhone 15 Pro Max via Facebook Marketplace, Núñez de León accused him of theft and attacked him with a baseball bat at the La Javilla baseball stadium. The victim died in a hospital on September 8 following severe head trauma.

Authorities intercepted Núñez de León via the Fugitive, Rebel, and Convicted Capture Unit (Ucaprec) following the issuance of an international arrest warrant. Núñez de León has denied fleeing justice, maintaining that he was in the United States for over four years as an international student on a scholarship. He asserts his departure was legal and that he returned voluntarily to clarify the facts, while also rejecting allegations regarding identity changes or criminal records. Family members have defended him, describing him as an exemplary student and suggesting other individuals may be involved.

Following his arrest, a three-month preventive detention order was imposed in September. Núñez de León has since filed an appeal against this detention order. An appeal hearing is scheduled for October 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Third Chamber of the Criminal Court of the Distrito Nacional.