On September 19, 1973, José de la Cruz FIGUEROA BUSTOS, 43, a casual laborer and member of the Socialist Party, was arrested by carabineros from the España police station at his home in the Población Irene Frei in Chillán.

After numerous efforts to determine his whereabouts, his family found his body at the Morgue, bearing clear signs of abuse. His death certificate states "death by immersion in water," and lists the date of death as September 20, 1973.

Family members later received information that the body had been found in the Chillán River and taken to the Morgue by Carabineros from Huambalí.

Given that his arrest is documented, that no evidence was found to suggest he was released, that this procedure was used in the southern regions of Chile with other detainees, and considering the victim's political affiliation, this Commission is convinced that José Figueroa was a victim of a human rights violation, as his death is reasonably attributable to agents of the State.