Nicolas Gutierrez Mendoza

Background

Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza was known as “La Bestia de Parcona” and as “El monstruo de Parcona.” The press in his country referred to him as “La Bestia de Parcona”.

He was a Peruvian man aged 25.

The offence

Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza confessed that he had sexually abused and murdered at least twelve girls. Police provided information that he had confessed “con frialdad” to his crimes and explained that, before attacking a girl, he followed her for two or three days and then took her away by deception to an isolated place.

His first eight killings were committed on the south side of Lima, and the last four were committed in Parcona, where he fled to evade police harassment that had been following him since May. He was said to have attempted to attack another minor when he was captured.

During the case discussion, it was stated that at least thirteen girls were confirmed as victims in the narrative material.

Investigation

After the initial discoveries, police located and found victims’ bodies in an abandoned well and in other places connected with the disappearances.

People organized brigades searched suspicious locations, starting with areas adjacent to the Fundo Buendía and also the house of Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza. This population search led to the discovery of the first corpse of the four that were later exhumed.

The families and local residents stated that the police had not responded quickly to disappearances, including an instance where, after the first disappearance, they were told “tienen que pasar 24 horas para que se considere a una persona como desaparecida.” They described that the police did not enter into action despite continued disappearances.

A memorial with three thousand signatures was submitted to the jefe de la Policía Nacional, Antonio Ketín Vidal, requesting drastic changes to the police in the IX Región de Ica.

A psychologist, Luis Herrera Abad, discussed proposed punishments and stated that he did not agree with castrations or the death penalty.

A forensics psychologist, José García Jiménez, described the case as antisocial and said:

“‘El monstruo de Parcona’, hace unos diez años, más o menos: era un caso de esos de los que preguntan, tenía muchos rasgos del antisocial. Tenía una florida personalidad”

Arrest

Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza was captured by two campesinos after they heard cries for help from a child at an abandoned place.

Timeline

• 26 May 1995 — Palmira Arroyo Quispe disappeared and was later found dead in the AA.HH. 19 de Julio Mz.E lote3, José Gálvez V.M.T.
• 30 January 1996 — Jenny disappeared at 6 p.m.
• 4 September 1996 — The arrest took place in the Fundo Buendía, between Parcona and La Tinguiña, Ica; Juan and Carlos Espino Castillo heard cries, confronted the man, and he was later handed over to the police station.
• 6 days after 30 January 1996 — Jenny’s corpse was found in a nearby chacra near the oxidación laguna.

Trial

During the trial that followed his capture, Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza denied everything at times and modified his versions.

It was stated that, during the trial, he had “confesado” and was conscious of his culpability, but that he was not considered imputable for the murders and sexual assaults by the narrative surrounding the proceedings.

Rodolfo Espinosa, fiscal of the Sala Penal de la Corte Superior de Ica, described him on 10 June 1997 as:

“El acusado como se ve, viste bien, masca chicle, y adopta poses creyéndose un gringo (…)”

The narrative also included that, during a morning session on 10 June 1997, the third hearing of the trial for the violation and death of 3 girls younger than seven years in Ica was taking place.

On 26 June (year not specified in the narrative fragment), he attempted to address the court:

“Negativo. Nunca he cometido delitos. No era jefe de banda. No es cierto. Dije Mentiras”

During a session on 11 June (year not specified in the narrative fragment), the following exchange was included:

“¿Fue su cuñado quién le contó como era el acto sexual con una criatura? - Sí, yo le saqué la lengua y me confío que era formidable, era chévere.”

It was also stated that he described himself as:

“asaltante, delincuente, que actuaba en una banda y había cometido asaltos a mano armada”

He said he was not a child rapist and that he had a girlfriend named Verónica Salvatierra, and he said he was a sexual predator only of adult women.

Sentencing

Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997, described as “Condenado a cadena perpetua 1997”.

The narrative stated that Peruvian laws currently sanctioned with life imprisonment cases of sexual abuse with murder, and that it was expected that “La Bestia de Parcona” would receive that “dura condena.”

Outcome

Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997.

Aftermath

Debate was reopened among Peruvians about expanding the death penalty for child abusers and child murderers, and parliamentary support was described for the death penalty or chemical castration.

A memorial of three thousand signatures requested changes to the police in the IX Región de Ica.

Other details

People involved in the capture

Juan Espino Castillo and Carlos Espino Castillo, brothers aged 28 and 25, observed a man with a girl and entered a confrontation after finding a girl semidesnuda and llorando with Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza about to sexually assault her. Nicolás ran out with a small dagger (puñal) in his right hand.

The narrative stated that the pursuer shouted:

“aquí está el asesino”

Neighbors came out armed with stones and sticks and chased him until he surrendered, after which he was tied and taken to the police post for handover.

Victims

The narrative listed “Víctimas COMPROBADAS” and “PROBABLES,” including the following individuals and details.

Víctimas COMPROBADAS

1. Palmira Arroyo Quispe, age 8 — disappearance related to 26 May 1995; body found in **AA.HH.
2. Johana Quispe Contreras, age 6 — 26.8.95; body found at Av. Grau 1938, José Gálvez
3. Jackeline Lizbeth Paiva Muro, age 7 — studied at Colegio Peruano-Japonés; 14.9.95; body found in pasaje Pajares de los Lúcumos, José Gálvez, V.M.T.
4. Keyla Yolanda Goya León, age 6 — body found in zona agropecuaria del comité N°10 José Gálvez V.M.T.; studied at Peruano-Suizo de Villa El Salvador
5. Jenny Fiorella Champa Rueda, age 9 — 4 de febrero 96; body found at Av. Los Eucaliptos 13-B José Gálvez, V.M.T.
6. Lidia Elizabeth Céspedes Rojas, age 8 — 10 de mayo 96; body located at Pasaje Ferrocarril #162 A. Lote 6 José Gálvez V.M.T.
7. Karen Flores Medrano, age 8 — disappeared 16 agosto 1996 in Parcona
8. Gina Villafuerte Calderón, age 7 — Parcona, Ica; disappeared 17 de julio at the exit of Colegio Santa Rosa
9. Lizeth Palomino Velásquez, age 7 — Parcona, Ica
10. Noemí Gamboa Saritúpac, age 6 — kidnapped in the afternoon of 26 de julio in Ica; studied at Colegio N° 22319

PROBABLES

11-A. L.R., age 8 12-I. T.G., age 8 13-P.B.T**, age 8

Police and municipal actions mentioned

• The narrative said local residents complained repeatedly about abandonment by the police delegation in José Gálvez.
• It stated that in January the authorities changed the mayor (major), captains, and sub-officials of the delegation after residents were about to throw stones.
• It stated that José Gálvez had three modules of “Puestos de Seguridad Ciudadana,” created on 30 de marzo by the mayor Rafael Chacón, and they were to be run by contracted staff.
• It stated that the “capitán Díaz de la Vega” gathered neighbors’ anger.

Captor claims and police portrayal

The narrative included that an officer of the Policía presented himself to the press the day after the capture and attributed his work to the arrest of the violator, though the bodies of the “cuerpos del delito” had not been found yet.

Confession and custody details included in narrative

The narrative stated that Nicolás Gutiérrez Mendoza was captured, confessed having been in the lifting of a corpse, and then was held by police for four days before being released “argumentando que no tenían pruebas en su contra,” after which he deceived his captors and went to Ica with his mother.