# Ronald Ojeda

Ronald Leandro Ojeda Moreno (September 2, 1991 – February 21–24, 2024) was a Venezuelan military officer, political dissident, and refugee in Chile. He was known for his opposition to the government of Nicolás Maduro. Ojeda was kidnapped in Santiago, Chile, on February 21, 2024, and his body was found ten days later. The Chilean Public Ministry activated the Minnesota Protocol after signs of torture were detected during the autopsy. One suspect was detained, while two others fled to Caracas. The Chilean authorities suggested that the crime had political motives and was orchestrated from Venezuela.

## Early life and military career

Ojeda was born on September 2, 1991, in Maracay, Venezuela, into a low-income family with seven siblings. In 2008, he enrolled in the Venezuelan Military Academy and graduated as an infantry lieutenant in 2012. He later joined a special forces unit in San Cristóbal, where he met his future wife, Jetsy, whom he married in December 2016. Ojeda openly criticized the Venezuelan government, claiming to have conducted intelligence operations against high-ranking officials involved in corruption.

## Detention in Venezuela

Ojeda and his comrade, José Rodríguez, were repeatedly detained and accused of being part of the "Espada de Dios" conspiracy, charged with military rebellion, incitement to rebellion, and treason. Both claimed to have been tortured by the Venezuelan military counterintelligence agency. During his imprisonment at Ramo Verde Prison, Ojeda befriended fellow detainee Eduardo Figueroa Marchena, a former aviation lieutenant.
In April 2017, Ojeda was arrested again, accused of rebellion and treason, following his involvement with the Movement for Liberty and Democracy, which rejected Nicolás Maduro as commander-in-chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. Ojeda alleged that he was tortured during this detention.
On November 30, 2017, Ojeda and eight other officers escaped during a transfer from a military court to Ramo Verde Prison. A shootout with local police ensued, resulting in the death of one escapee, Rafael Arreaza, and the severe injury of another, Luis Mogollón. Five officers, including Ojeda, managed to flee to Peru and later settled in Chile.

## Exile in Chile

In 2018, the Maduro government issued a decree expelling 24 military officers, including Ojeda, without trial. Ojeda gained attention in November 2022 when he protested in front of La Moneda Palace in Santiago, demanding the release of political prisoners and condemning dialogue between the Maduro regime and the opposition. Chile granted him political asylum in November 2023.

## Kidnapping and murder in Chile

On February 21, 2024, Ojeda was kidnapped from his apartment in Independencia, Santiago, by individuals posing as Chilean investigative police officers. His body was found on March 1, 2024, dismembered and buried under a concrete slab in Maipú. Preliminary autopsy results indicated death by mechanical asphyxiation, occurring between seven and ten days prior to the discovery.

### Judicial process

The investigation, led by Chilean prosecutor Héctor Barros, suggested that the crime was politically motivated and possibly orchestrated by Venezuelan authorities with the involvement of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization. Two suspects, Walter Rodríguez Pérez and Maikel Villegas Rodríguez, fled to Venezuela, prompting Chile to request their extradition.
As of July 2024, the only detainee in the case was a 17-year-old Venezuelan minor. The Chilean Supreme Court granted a 60-day extension for the investigation. Meanwhile, key suspects, including Villegas and Larry Álvarez Núñez ("Larry Changa"), were arrested in Colombia and Costa Rica, respectively, with extradition processes underway.
In January 2025, Barros linked the murder to a faction of the Tren de Aragua operating in Chile, implicating 16 individuals in Ojeda's killing. Barros revealed that three witnesses implicated the Maduro government, with one detainee alleging that Cabello ordered and financed the murder through a criminal intermediary known as "El Niño Guerrero."

### Political reactions

The case strained diplomatic relations between Chile and Venezuela. Venezuelan politician Diosdado Cabello denied any involvement.
In January 2025, in reaction to the Chilean prosecutor's findings, Chilean Interior Minister Carolina Tohá stated that Chile would appeal to the International Criminal Court if Venezuelan government involvement was confirmed.

## Legacy

Ojeda left behind manuscripts detailing alleged corruption within the Venezuelan military, which his family intends to publish. The Venezuelan Political Persecuted Exiles Organization (Veppex) established the "Order of the Venezuelan Exile Ronald Ojeda" to honor Venezuelan exiles fighting for democracy.