Opinion ID: 198984
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Murder of Rafael Cotto-Fuentes

Text: 38 In 1994, Cotto-Fuentes was arrested for the murder of Jose Cruz-Rodriguez. He agreed to cooperate with authorities and was released on bond. At a meeting with Officer Rodriguez in late April or early May 1994, Cotto-Fuentes described the Santiago-Lugo drug organization. His testimony linked Colon-Miranda to the organization's activities, including the Cruz-Rodriguez murder. Based on the information it received from Cotto-Fuentes, the Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney's Office initiated an investigation. Cotto-Fuentes subsequently reported that Colon-Miranda, among others, had tried to kill him on May 20. Based on Cotto-Fuentes' account of the attempted murder, a judge issued warrants for the arrest of Ortiz-Miranda, Colon-Miranda, and a co-conspirator. While Ortiz-Miranda was in custody, he and Colon-Miranda reviewed the complaint, and an officer heard Ortiz-Miranda comment that Cotto-Fuentes was a snitch. 39 Cotto-Fuentes was murdered in June 1994. On July 27, 1994, Colon-Miranda was arrested. A forensics expert testified that the 9mm Taurus firearm seized from Colon-Miranda's vehicle at the time of his arrest had an obliterated serial number; its barrel had been hollowed out to prevent identifying marking from forming on the bullet; and its firing pin had been filed down to disguise markings. However, the gun still produced identifying marks on the casing from the breach face, which is located at the rear of the gun, and these marks matched the twenty-four shell casings recovered from the murder scene. 40