Investigation into murder of protected witness in Honduras

Following the death of Dereck McNeil, a protected witness in the high-profile disappearance case of Angie Peña, Honduran Deputy Minister of Security Rommel Martínez traveled to Roatán to oversee investigations. Martínez deployed local investigation units and prosecutors from the Ministry of Public Affairs to collect evidence, stating that authorities were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to ensure a “satisfactory response” from the state.

On August 22, the Honduran National Police arrested Jeremías Ávila Dilbert in La Ceiba in connection with the murder of McNeal, which occurred on August 17 in Roatán. The arrest was conducted by the Dirección Policial de Investigaciones (DPI) following technical investigations. Authorities noted that because McNeal had provided anticipatory testimony before a judge, his statements may remain valid in judicial proceedings.

McNeil was shot while driving his vehicle shortly after dropping his son off at school. The incident has sparked national concern regarding the effectiveness of witness protection protocols, amid reports suggesting the victim’s identity and protected status may have been leaked prior to the attack.

While Ávila Dilbert has denied involvement, claiming he was in Roatán at the time of the crime, police noted he has a criminal record dating back to 2018 involving drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. The Public Ministry is preparing formal charges to request pretrial detention as investigators work to identify other potential accomplices.