MOCA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – JUNE 26, 2026 Brutal murder of an elderly man took place in the community of Cuero Duro. The victim was 67-year-old Ramón Arístides López Núñez, and the perpetrator was his 34-year-old nephew Juan Alberto Díaz López, locally also known by the nickname “Chicho.”
According to witnesses, this was a long-standing family dispute over inheritance and land, specifically over ownership of a house and the surrounding land. Local residents stated that the conflict between the two men had lasted for a long time. Several sources also mention that the suspect may have suffered from serious mental health problems that were allegedly untreated. He was reportedly obsessed with the belief that one of the houses in the area rightfully belonged to him.
According to police information, the argument escalated near the family properties. During the conflict, Juan Alberto Díaz López pulled out a machete and repeatedly attacked his uncle. Forensic reports indicate that the victim suffered not only multiple slash wounds but also severe blunt-force injuries. After the fatal attack, the perpetrator allegedly decapitated his uncle. Some local media report that he then dragged the body several feet along the road and continued beating it with a wooden stick.
Police arrived shortly after the incident and arrested the suspect directly at the crime scene. He reportedly did not put up significant resistance during the arrest. A court in Moca subsequently ordered three months of pretrial detention while criminal proceedings and psychological evaluations continue.


