Thursday, March 27, 2014

Father awaits justice in son’s 2005 murder in Puerto Rico - Winnipeg

Adam Anhang and his wife at the time, Aurea Vazquez-Rijos.

Globalnews.ca - ‎21 hours ago‎
When police arrived, Vazquez-Rijos was holding her injured head, pleading for help. Thirty months would pass beforeFBI agents in Puerto Rico had the information they needed to draw the connection between Vazquez-Rijos, the widow, and Pabon-Colon, ..

How a father tracked the 'Black Widow' following his son's murder

Globalnews.ca - ‎22 hours ago‎
He passed on what he learned to the FBI in Puerto Rico, as they built a file on Vazquez-Rijos, the five-foot-two widow who once won a beauty pageant as Miss Puerto Rico Petite. Vazquez-Rijos, along with her sister Marcia and her sister's boyfriend, was ...

Aurea Vazquez-Rijos - Google Search


Father awaits justice in son’s 2005 murder in Puerto Rico - Winnipeg

1 Share
In the days before he was bludgeoned to death on the streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2005, Winnipeg-born Adam Anhang had a bad feeling.
“I’m a little scared right now,” he emailed a friend. His friend responded: “You are way too emotionally attached to your own misery… to know what to do at this juncture.”
In his last telephone conversation with his father Abe, there was a tone of trepidation in his voice. Abe knew something was wrong, but his 32-year-old son didn’t talk much with his family about his personal life in Puerto Rico.
Adam’s life was a mess. His six-month marriage with Aurea Vazquez-Rijos had fallen apart—they were no longer living together—and she was being difficult about the divorce.
He’d hired a bodyguard because he mistrusted Vazquez-Rijos, and he was afraid of her family. He was having trouble focusing on his career—developing high-end condos and vacation resorts in the American territory.
Adam planned on having it all out with Vazquez-Rijos on the night of Sept. 22, 2005, at the stylish Dragonfly restaurant in the city’s tourism district. When they left the restaurant shortly before midnight, however, Anhang and Vazquez-Rijos were still at odds. An eyewitness heard them arguing as they walked to their car in a nearby parking lot. They clearly hadn’t settled the terms of their break-up.
These were the last few minutes of Anhang’s life. In the shadows near the restaurant area, a man was waiting. His name was Alex Pabon-Colon, nicknamed “El Loco.”
He was holding a kitchen knife with a nine-inch blade, pretending to be talking on his cellphone.
Here is how an FBI affidavit, based on eyewitness accounts and El Loco’s confession, described the next few moments:
“Pabon-Colon…saw Aurea and Anhang pass by shortly after midnight. Aurea nodded her head in a way that Pabon-Colon understood meant that he was to follow them, and that the person with her was the target. Two witnesses confirmed seeing Pabon-Colon following the couple at a short distance.
“While pursuing the couple, Pabon-Colon also picked up a loose cobblestone and placed it in his pocket . . . Pabon-Colon then approached Anhang and told him ‘Give me the money’ in English… The victim punched him in the face, and Pabon-Colon then hit Anhang in the head with the piece of cobblestone. Pabon-Colon then pulled the knife and stabbed the victim several times.
“According to an eyewitness, Aurea watched the struggle from a short distance and did not yell, flee, or attempt physically to stop Pabon-Colon . . . While they were engaged in the struggle, Anhang shouted to Aurea, ‘Run, baby, run.’
“Pabon-Colon then hit Aurea in the head with the piece of cobblestone, and she fell to the ground. Pabon-Colon did so because in prior conversations, Aurea had instructed Pabon-Colon to assault her as well, in order to make the incident look real.”
It was meant to “look real,” according to the FBI, but the assailant fled without taking Anhang’s wallet. Minutes later, Anhang was dead, his blood pooling in the cobblestones around his head. When police arrived, Vazquez-Rijos was holding her injured head, pleading for help.
Thirty months would pass before FBI agents in Puerto Rico had the information they needed to draw the connection between Vazquez-Rijos, the widow, and Pabon-Colon, the hitman. When he was arrested in 2008, he told authorities that Vazquez-Rijos, along with her sister Marcia, and Marcia’s boyfriend, Jose Ferrer Sosa, had promised him $3 million to kill Anhang, but they’d reneged on the murder-for-hire deal.
That confession, along with phone calls made on Anhang’s cell phone after his murder, was enough for the US Attorney in Puerto Rico to issue an indictment against Vazquez-Rijos and her alleged confederates. That indictment came out in mid-2008, but it was too late: Vazquez-Rijos had already taken up residence in Italy, where she was pregnant with twins and working as a tourist guide.
She’d found a sanctuary, and even though she inherited none of Anhang’s substantial estate, she wasn’t starving. Anhang’s father, who hired a detective to follow her in Florence, says she had the looks and the resourcefulness to maintain a “pleasant life.”
There was no lack of male companionship and over time, Bibi, as she now called herself, even found support in the city’s Orthodox Jewish community, claiming she was a convert to Judaism.
That connection helped her find a place to live, work, and even helped her find day-care services for her girls. (When I approached leaders of the community earlier this year in Florence, they wouldn’t speak to me about Vazquez-Rijos’s deception, or how they felt about being duped. Their silence suggested a deep embarrassment.)
Vazquez-Rijos, however, was relentless. She soon found a well-connected Florentine banker to help set up a tourist agency—a man who was impressed by her “tenacity and her love for her children.” However, when stories about “the Black Widow” began percolating in the Italian media, questioning her cover story, Vazquez-Rijos left Florence and moved to Venice.
For 4 ½ years, Abe and the FBI kept Vazquez-Rijos in their sights, waiting for her to make a mistake. That finally came in 2013, when she recklessly boarded a flight to Madrid, using her American passport. Spanish police and Interpol, tipped off by the FBI, were waiting for her in the arrivals terminal.
The Spanish High Court ordered her extradition, unimpressed by Vazquez-Rijos’ plea that her life was in danger, and that the Puerto Rican underworld was behind Anhang’s murder.
She remains in a comfortable prison outside Madrid, while her lawyers consider further appeals.
TIMELINE OF ADAM ANHANG HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
2004 — Adam Anhang and Aurea Vazquez-Rijos meet in a bar in San Juan.
March 18, 2005 -They are quietly married in Puerto Rico. Not even Anhang’s family is told of the wedding.
June 18, 2005 — Anhang moves out of their home, into an apartment. Suspicious of Vazquez-Rijos, he hires a private detective to follow her.
September 2005 — According to an FBI affidavit, Vazquez-Rijos, her sister Marcia, and boyfriend Jose Ferrer Sosa, meet with Alex “El Loco” Pabon-Colon to discuss an attack on Anhang. The reason: Vazquez-Rijos is reportedly concerned about how the divorce will leave her financially.
September 21, 2005 — Anhang files the divorce petition. He emails his business partner and says he is “a little scared.”
September 23, 2005 — Anhang is stabbed and beaten to death with a cobblestone in old San Juan, immediately after a late dinner with his wife to talk about their impending divorce. An FBI report quotes witnesses who say Vazquez-Rijos “did not yell, flee, or attempt physically to stop” the attacker.
October, 2005 — Police arrest Jonathan Roman-Rivera, a man who fits an eyewitness description of killer.
April 2006 — Vazquez-Rijos sues Anhang’s parents, Abe and Barbara Anhang, in federal court, claiming she was cheated from inheriting his estate. The suit would later be dismissed because of her non-appearance in court.
April 2006 — Vazquez-Rijos leaves town, goes to Italy “to study documentary filmmaking,” says her mother.
October, 2007 — Roman-Rivera is convicted of the murder, and sentenced to 105 years in prison. Abe Anhang meets the next day with FBI in San Juan, requesting a further investigation based on cell phone evidence.
April, 2008 — Alex Pabon-Colon is arrested and confesses to the murder. He tells police he was hired by Vazquez-Rijos, her sister and a boyfriend to kill Adam. Meanwhile, Vazquez-Rijos is pregnant with twins in Italy.
June 4, 2008 — The US Attorney in Puerto Rico indicts Vazquez-Rijos, her sister Marcia, and boyfriend Jose Ferrer Sosa for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Roman-Rivera is released soon after.
September 2008 — Vazquez-Rijos’ twin daughters are born in Florence; father is Constantino de Stefano, a man she met in a nightclub. Italian law makes it difficult for Vazquez-Rijos to be extradited from Italy to face charges in Puerto Rico
June 30, 2013 — Vazquez-Rijos is arrested by Spanish police after landing at Madrid airport. She flew to Spain expecting to meet a group of tourists, and the FBI, working with Interpol, was alerted because she was travelling with her US passport.
September 2013 — The US Attorney in Puerto Rico promises Spain that the authorities will not seek the death penalty if Vazquez-Rijos is extradited.
Sept. 17, 2013 — Roman-Rivera sues police and prosecutors for $12 million for wrongful conviction. Settlement cannot be revealed... Read more

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Puerto Rico News Videos


Puerto Rico News Videos  

Playlists on YouTube


Uploads by CNNInternational


Uploads by AFP


Uploads by Euronews


Uploads by PBSNewsHour


Uploads by TheNewYorkTimes


Uploads by whitehouse


Uploads by U.S. Department of State

Puerto Rico News Videos - YouTube

1 Share
 Thumbnail Spain's wine surplus spills across planet AFP news agency 1:59  ThumbnailVenezuelan troops hold plaza Reuters 1:02  Thumbnail Puerto Rico sees exodus as economy continues to struggle CBS Evening News 2:05  Thumbnail Crimea vive el referéndum separatista como un día de fiesta AGENCIA EFE 0:48  Thumbnail Putin firma el decreto que reconoce a Crimea como un Estado independiente AGENCIA EFE 1:16  Thumbnail "La partida", el drama romántico de una pareja de adolescentes homosexuales en Cuba AGENCIA EFE 2:07  Thumbnail 42 detenidos por traficar con "shabú" una potente y adictiva droga AGENCIA EFE 1:44  Thumbnail Economic Update Crisis Hits Puerto Rico (Chile, Italy, Bitcoins.) Richard Wolff Dec22 Nicolas Bunner 55:01 Thumbnail Referendo en Puerto Rico ¿la hora de decidir sobre EE UU o solo cebo para hacer votarespanol noticias 3:10  Thumbnail Los familiares de los pasajeros chinos, indignados ante la falta de información AGENCIA EFE 0:48  Thumbnail El chino más rico ofrece 260 millones por el Edificio España de Madrid AGENCIA EFE 1:17  Thumbnail Ricky Martin - "Livin' La Vida Loca" - EXTENDED STEREO mix on TOTP - '99 HQ Melonhead622 5:08  Thumbnail Major General James L Collins at Columbus Day Parade in Puerto Rico. HD Stock Footage CriticalPast 2:48  Thumbnail Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico lawmakers discuss the Jones Act Michele Van Hessen 49:06  ThumbnailPuerto Rico from The Freedom of the Seas Iamthebosslady 0:27  Thumbnail Puerto Rico ha votado a favor de convertirse en el estado 51 de los EE UU espanol noticias 1:08  Thumbnail Putin anuncia al mundo que Crimea ya es parte de la Federación rusa teleSUR tv 4:19  Thumbnail Virtual declaración de hostilidades de golpistas de Kiev a Moscú teleSUR tv 1:26  Thumbnail Barack Obama desconoce referendo de Crimea y dice que infringe la ley teleSUR tv 0:38  Thumbnail Pese a transgresión de Rusia, Ucrania buscará su amistad: Yatsenyuk teleSUR tv 0:41  ThumbnailContinúan las repercusiones por reintegración de Crimea a Rusia teleSUR tv 2:20  ThumbnailPOLICÍA HERIDO DE BALA El Vocero de PR 1:24  Thumbnail SEMANA SANTA: ¿Se ha perdido la tradición? El Vocero de PR 2:58  Thumbnail LA OPINIÓN de Rafy Rivera El Vocero de PR 0:40 Thumbnail Lo asesinan en cabalgata El Vocero de PR 1:55  Thumbnail Telo Wrap protege el ambiente El Vocero de PR 4:16  Thumbnail Security checks anger Arizona Latinos CNN 2:52 Thumbnail OPERATIVO EN MANUEL A PÉREZ El Vocero de PR 1:33  Thumbnail NOTICIERO 247- Nuevo Mundo Noticias NuevoMundoTV 9:19  Thumbnail Supreme Court Considers Health Reform Day 2 Recap: Individual Mandate on Trial PBS NewsHour 14:01  Thumbnail Why More Americans Are Living Alone PBS NewsHour 7:00  Thumbnail Syria Analyst: Annan's Peace Plan Treats Symptoms, Not Disease PBS NewsHour 6:29  Thumbnail Syria Reportedly Accepts Annan's Peace Plan as Death Toll Hits 9,000 PBS NewsHour 2:26  Thumbnail SANTINI El Vocero de PR 4:41 Thumbnail Syria's peace plan acceptance "a first step" euronews (in English) 1:17  Thumbnail[Deleted Video]  Thumbnail [Deleted Video]  Thumbnail Salsa pa' mi escuela primerahoravideos33:21  Thumbnail Telo Wrap protege el ambiente El Vocero de PR 4:16  Thumbnail Anne Burrell y Treviño El Vocero de PR 2:12  Thumbnail Anne Burrell y Treviño El Vocero de PR 2:12  ThumbnailAnne Burrell y Treviño El Vocero de PR 2:12  Thumbnail NOTICIERO 260 - 1/4 NuevoMundoTV 5:26 Thumbnail Hoodies and House Attire CNN 2:44  Thumbnail Doctors Call World's First Full Face Transplant A Resounding Success VOAvideo 2:38  Thumbnail Polémica entre O'neill y Mundo El Vocero de PR 8:46  Thumbnail Carney: Health care is 'law of the land' CNN 1:15  ThumbnailRAMON LUIS RIVERA, ALCALDE VB El Vocero de PR 1:00  Thumbnail RAMON L RIVERA, SALIDA DIAZ COLON El Vocero de PR 4:33  Thumbnail Pope meets Fidel Castro after Havana mass AFP news agency 0:34  Thumbnail Entrevista con los actores de Wrath of the Titans El Vocero de PR4:33  Thumbnail President Obama's Bilateral Meeting with Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan The White House 4:11  Thumbnail President Obama Speaks at the Nuclear Security Summit The White House 5:07  Thumbnail Ivan Rodriguez Traverso El Vocero de PR 2:07  Thumbnail Ruta 66 (vista aérea), El Vocero de PR 6:25  Thumbnail Calle Traicionera: El drama de las trabajadoras sexualesprimerahoravideos 1:01  Thumbnail Entrevista AGP El Vocero de PR 19:12  Thumbnail Las voces de la calle se unen en Primera Hora primerahoravideos 0:31  Thumbnail Cox Alomar comparte con sus seguidores frente al PPD Primarias 2012 El Vocero de PR 0:43  Thumbnail Víctor Suárez analiza los resultados primarias de PPD El Vocero de PR 0:23  Thumbnail Seguidores de Cox Alomar hacen campaña frente al PPD El Vocero de PR 0:24  Thumbnail Puerto Rico Indie presenta... Archipiélago EP3: Tachdé Puerto Rico Indie 12:00  Thumbnail Puerto Rico Indie presenta... Archipiélago EP2: MIMA Puerto Rico Indie 7:48  Thumbnail Puerto Rico Indie presenta... Archipiélago EP1: Campo-Formio Puerto Rico Indie 9:56  Thumbnail Puerto Rico Indie presenta... Archipiélago Puerto Rico Indie 2:42  Thumbnail concurso aprenda espanol con Nuevo MundoNuevoMundoTV 1:18  Thumbnail Promocion 5to Aniversario NMTV NuevoMundoTV 0:26 Thumbnail Su ceguera no es un impedimento primerahoravideos 2:45  Thumbnail Queremos que Puerto Rico se quiera primerahoravideos 0:31  Thumbnail Queremos que Puerto Rico se quieraprimerahoravideos 0:31  Thumbnail Maquillaje con airbrush primerahoravideos 4:05  Thumbnail[Deleted Video]  Thumbnail Noticias de Primera 2011 primerahoravideos 0:32  Thumbnail Puerto Rico Indie presenta... La Avanzada Y Puerto Rico Indie 6:50  Thumbnail Maquillaje festivoprimerahoravideos 4:10  Thumbnail Misa Padre Pedro primerahoravideos 1:47  Thumbnail Joven mató a su hermano para defender a su padre primerahoravideos 2:10  Thumbnail Habla el hijo del hombre que falleciera durante ventas del madrugador primerahoravideos 1:14  Thumbnail Tito el Bambino habla de la paternidad primerahoravideos 3:02  Thumbnail El Segundo: Hello Seahorse! en vivo desde La Respuesta (San Juan, PR) 17.09.2011 Puerto Rico Indie 3:16

-