New forensic evidence, including blood-stained tools and human remains, has strengthened the case against Javier Troncoso Chuñil, the primary suspect in the death of his mother, Julia Chuñil. A Mapuche leader and community figure, the 72-year-old woman disappeared under circumstances that prosecutors now allege were the result of a violent confrontation sparked by a robbery within her own home.
The investigation into the death of Julia Chuñil has shifted from a missing person’s case to a complex criminal proceeding involving charges of parricide and illegal burial. Recent judicial filings reveal that investigators uncovered an axe and a machete hidden beneath piles of wood in a storage shed near the victim’s residence. Both tools tested positive for human blood, providing a physical link to the violence the prosecution claims occurred on November 8, 2024.
According to the Public Ministry, the evidence suggests a calculated effort by the suspects to mislead investigators. Prosecutors allege that the family attempted to divert police attention away from the primary residence—where the bulk of the biological evidence was found—and toward a different property known as Fundo La Fritz. This strategy of obfuscation is further supported by intercepted communications and forensic audio analysis.
The case has now reached a critical juncture, with the Los Lagos Guarantee Court maintaining the preventive detention of Javier Troncoso even as redefining the roles of his siblings in the alleged cover-up.
Forensic Discoveries and Biological Evidence
The breakthrough in the case came through a combination of traditional police work and advanced technology. On January 16, investigators utilized a geo-radar—a device capable of detecting subsurface anomalies—to scan the area surrounding the home. Approximately 50 meters from the dwelling, police excavated a buried sack containing 65 bone fragments.
Analysis conducted by the Universidad Austral confirmed that at least one of these fragments, identified as specimen M1, is 100% human. Further forensic tests identified human blood on a door frame, a pair of trousers and a cushion inside the house. In the nearby shed, peritajes by Labocar (Carabineros’ forensic laboratory) confirmed human blood on the blades of the hidden axe and machete, as well as “blood propelled by a violent mechanism” found on a rear wall.
While the presence of human DNA is confirmed, the Public Ministry is currently seeking additional analyses to definitively match these samples to Julia Chuñil and to determine if the remaining 64 bone fragments also belong to the victim.
A Reconstitution of the Crime
The prosecution’s theory of the crime was detailed during a scene reconstitution held on March 10 and 11. The events reportedly began when Javier Troncoso attempted to rob an elderly man, identified in court documents as N.P.G., using a knife to demand the man’s pension money. According to witnesses, including N.P.G. And a protected witness, the situation escalated when Julia Chuñil intervened.
Witnesses recount that Julia confronted her son, asking, “What are you doing? You are a young man, stealing money from a little old man.” This confrontation allegedly led to a struggle, during which Javier Troncoso asphyxiated his mother before attempting to dispose of her body. The elderly victim, N.P.G., was reportedly locked in a room during the incident. Police later recovered the victim’s identity card and Julia’s debit card in the possession of the siblings.
To corroborate the witness testimonies, the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones) conducted a specialized acoustic study on March 30. Neighbors had reported hearing screams and the sound of tools, such as hammers and saws, on the night of November 8. The PDI recreated these conditions—including the specific humidity, drizzle, and wind of that night—and concluded that “Sound Event 1” (shouting and arguing) and “Sound Event 2” (the noise of tools) would indeed be audible to neighbors 145 meters away.
The ‘Obstructive’ Phone Call
One of the most damaging pieces of evidence presented by the prosecution is a recorded telephone conversation between Javier and his brother, Pablo San Martín Chuñil, dated January 9, 2025. This call occurred two months after the family had filed a report for the “presumed disappearance” of their mother.
In the recording, the brothers discuss keeping the police—specifically the SIP (Sección de Investigaciones Policiales) of Carabineros—away from the residence. Pablo is heard telling Javier to keep the gates locked and demand identification from anyone who arrives, stating, “Those guys [the SIP] must not be let in.”
The prosecution argues that this behavior is fundamentally inconsistent with a family genuinely searching for a missing loved one. Instead, they contend it demonstrates a clear intent to obstruct the investigation and protect the crime scene from being processed.
Legal Status and Next Steps
The legal ramifications for the children of Julia Chuñil vary based on their alleged level of involvement. Javier Troncoso remains in preventive detention, facing a litany of charges including parricide, frustrated robbery with violence, and illegal inhumation.
| Individual | Legal Classification | Current Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Javier Troncoso Chuñil | Author (Parricide, Robbery, etc.) | Preventive Detention |
| Pablo San Martín Chuñil | Accomplice (Cover-up) | No restrictive measures |
| Jeannette Troncoso Chuñil | Accomplice (Cover-up) | No restrictive measures |
The court revoked the house arrest previously imposed on Pablo and Jeannette. The judge determined that they acted as “encubridores” (accessories after the fact) rather than authors. Under Chilean law, siblings of the primary author of a crime are often exempt from certain penal responsibilities when acting as accessories, which led to their release from restrictive measures.
Defense attorney Karina Riquelme has strongly contested these findings, accusing the Public Ministry of acting in “bad faith” and presenting “last-minute evidence” designed to create public commotion rather than serve the interests of justice. She has specifically questioned the credibility of the witnesses used during the scene reconstitution.
The next phase of the trial will depend on the results of the pending DNA comparisons. Once the laboratory confirms whether the blood and bone fragments match Julia Chuñil, the prosecution will move toward the final trial phase to determine the sentencing for the accused.
Disclaimer: This report is based on judicial filings and police reports. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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