Leticia Lopez: Difference between revisions

'''Leticia Lopez''' is a Colombian nun. In November 1999<ref name=bbc>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1776865.stm Colombian nun jailed for sister's murder] - BBC, January 22, 2002</ref> she murdered 30-year-old<ref name=tele>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/1382579/Convent-killer-who-shot-rival-gets-14-years.html Convent killer who shot rival gets 14 years] - The Telegraph, January 24, 2002</ref> Sister Luz Amparo Granada.

Lopez and Granada had rooms next to each other<ref name=bbc/> in their cloister in Colombia's historic capital Bogota's Candelaria district.<ref name=tele/> Granada worked closely with sex workers and drug users,<ref name=iol>[https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/nun-convicted-for-murder-that-shocked-cops-81293 Nun convicted for murder that shocked cops] - IOL, January 24, 2002</ref> and the children of sex workers.<ref name=tele/>

Granada was conspicuous on the streets of Colombia for both her work with the socially disadvantaged and her striking red hair and blue eyes, both unusual for the region.<ref name=bbc/> Dozens of prostitutes had recently been killed, apparently by right-wing vigilantes performing "social cleansing", and Granada was championing the rights of these victims.<ref name=tele/>

Lopez hated Granada for her work with these less fortunate souls.<ref name=iol/><ref name=bbc/><ref name=tele/> She may have been emboldened by the case of nuns Luz Adelia Barragan and Eva Maria Silva, who in August 1999 had been acquitted of murder after accidentally striking a thief while firing warning shots into the garden of their convent.<ref name=priorcase>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/412329.stm Colombian nuns cleared of murder] - BBC, August 5, 1999</ref>

Little is known about the exact circumstances of the killing. Police and prosecutors suspect Lopez did not act alone, and may have teamed up with the far-right vigilantes preying on Bogota's prostitutes.<ref name=tele/> Granada's corpse was found on the side of a road near the city.<ref name=bbc/> She had been shot multiple times in the head, her legs were missing, and her body had been burnt.<ref name=iol/> She was not identified as the missing Granada for five months,<ref name=iol/> and even then only after the FBI was asked to assist.<ref name=tele/>

Police arrested Lopez after becoming convinced Granada's killer was close to her.<ref name=bbc/> Microscopic blood drops and bone fragments were found in Granada's room.<ref name=iol/> Detectives were hampered by detergent used to cleanse the scene and fresh paint added to the room.<ref name=bbc/> A witness reported Lopez washing blood, supposedly menstrual, from Granada's bedding.<ref name=tele/> However, it wasn't enough and the case collapsed with Lopez freed after 17 months in custody.<ref name=iol/>

The FBI was called in again. FBI investigators used their technology to examine the room, and were able to show blood spatter patterns on the walls and a trail where the body had been dragged out of her room to a rear exit.<ref name=bbc/> They also found cardboard in Lopez's room which matched that on the body.<ref name=tele/>

In January of 2002 Lopez was finally brought to justice and received a 14-year sentence for the murder.<ref name=iol/>

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