Triston Jay Amero

Background

Triston Jay Amero was born in 1982. He was also known as Claudio Lestad, Lestat Claudius de Orleans y Montevideo, and John Scheda. He was from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

Amero had a history of mental illness and had been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. He had been in juvenile prison several times, beginning at the age of seven. He wandered around Latin America for some years and later settled in the Bolivian city of Potosí in 2004. He described himself as a loner, a “political refugee” and “the Superman of Loosers” [sic]. He also went by the name Lestat Claudius de Orleans y Montevideo, derived from the vampire novels by US author Anne Rice.

Amero passed himself off as a Saudi Arabian lawyer, a pagan high priest, a notary public and a vampire during earlier travels around South America. He obtained a “world passport” under his given name in 2003 and changed it in 2004 to Lestat Claudius de Orleans y Montevideo, according to David Gallup. His aunt, Paula Amero of Forest Ranch, California, told reporters: “he didn't need to be locked up” in California. His mother, Dawna Scheda of Placerville, California, told reporters: “Of course we don't believe he would do something like this. He's my son.”

The offence

On March 22, 2006, Amero was arrested for hotel bombings in Bolivia that damaged two low rent hotels. The attack killed two people and injured seven. A third bombing was stopped.

The explosions took place hours apart on 21 March 2006. The first explosion rocked the Linares hotel in La Paz at 2150 local time (0150 GMT). The blast destroyed two floors of the hotel and the windows of surrounding buildings. Local media said the fatal victims were a young couple; the man was killed instantly and the woman died later in hospital. The second explosion reportedly occurred at 0145 local time (0545 GMT) at the Riosinho hotel and also caused extensive damage to properties in the area. Police suspected plastic explosives may have been used, and said they used 110 dynamite cartridges in each attack.

Officials said two foreigners had been detained over the blasts, believed to have been caused by explosives. The attack killed two Bolivians. The injured included a U.S. citizen identified as Jessica Wilson, who was treated and released. Police also said they were planning a third bombing of the Chilean consulate, which Amero denied.

Amero told police that the motive may have been “religious.” He also told police he was a practicing pagan high priest and that the bombings were meant to gain him allies through media coverage. Amero told them he was a practicing pagan high priest and said that the bombings would gain him allies through media coverage, according to district attorney Carlos Fiorilo.

Investigation

Bolivian authorities were unsure of the motive for the bombings that led to Amero’s arrest.

President Evo Morales declared: “This American was putting bombs in hotels.” Morales also said: “The U.S. government fights terrorism, and they send us terrorists.” Morales denounced the bombings as an attack on Bolivia's democracy and called it “typical of terrorist crime.” Deputy Interior Minister Rafael Puente told Radio Fides: “The possible motives behind these attacks are incomprehensible. There don't seem to be any concrete objectives other than causing deaths.”

In court documents, Amero had made constant threats of suicide and violence against authorities, according to the Associated Press. Corrections officials wrote in court documents: “Amero keeps to himself and appears to like to be seen as a rebel and outlaw,”.

Police said the couple perpetrated attacks in other Bolivian cities that left no victims, and La Paz district attorney Jorge Gutierrez said so.

Arrest and custody

Amero and an accomplice, Alda Ribeiro Acosta of Uruguay, were arrested by police in a hotel in the slum of El Alto. Amero and Ribeiro were formally charged with murder and were held in a maximum security prison near La Paz. At the time of sentencing coverage, Ribeiro was described as Amero’s Uruguayan ex-girlfriend and also as the accomplice who must serve 30 years, the maximum penalty, for her part.

While incarcerated, Amero attempted to stab his lawyer and had gasoline hidden in his cell, with plans to set fire to a prison official and a U.S. diplomat. While awaiting trial, Amero plotted to use petrol to attack officials from the US Embassy who visited and the prison superintendant, but the plot was foiled when the petrol was discovered.

Trial

A Bolivian judge ordered preventive detention pending trial. Judge Williams Davila ordered Triston Jay Amero, described at that time as 24, and his pregnant partner, Alda Ribeiro described at that time as 45, to be held in “preventive detention” pending trial.

Amero and Ribeiro were formally charged with murder and falsifying documents, and the prosecution involved their formal charges.

Amero later was interviewed, saying “I am sorry about the victims,” but denying he was guilty. Ribeiro told a television interview from jail: “He has done something very bad against Bolivia and against these innocent people,” and said: “He did all this behind my back, I didn't know anything about this.” Ribeiro also said in the same context that she believed the “husband” was alone responsible for the bombings.

A U.S. citizen identified as Jessica Wilson was treated and released after the bombings, according to police statements included in the case coverage.

Sentencing

Amero was sentenced to 30 years in prison on January 23, 2008. In coverage of the sentencing, two people died in the blasts in March 2006, and Costa (referred to in sentencing coverage as Alda Ribeiro Costa) also received 30 years, the maximum penalty, for her part.

Appeals

There was no appeals content in the provided material.

Outcome

Amero died in prison on April 1, 2008. At age 26, he died in a hospital after complaining of stomach pains while in prison.

A prison official said Amero had complained of stomach pains and was taken to hospital, where he died. A post-mortem was being performed, prison officials said.

Aftermath

Amero’s death occurred while he was serving a 30-year prison sentence in the Chonchocoro maximum security prison.

Deputy Interior Minister Rafael Puente was quoted regarding motives, and President Evo Morales blamed the United States. The U.S. Embassy in La Paz said: “Declarations such as these impede our efforts and block our capacity to cooperate” in anti-terrorism efforts. The embassy issued a statement expressing “concern” and “surprise” over Morales’ remarks.

County District Attorney Todd Riebe was quoted as saying they had concluded Amero was a danger to himself and others. Riebe said: “He is a very disturbed man, and given his past, I think he would be fully capable of doing this.”