- Nelson Haase was captured by police in the Los Lagos region of Chile on Saturday, following his flight after being sentenced to 25 years for the kidnapping and murder of iconic singer Victor Jara.
- Victor Jara was tortured and murdered on September 16, 1973, just five days after Pinochet's coup against then-President Salvador Allende.
- Haase was one of several officers sentenced for Jara's murder, receiving a total of 15 years for murder and 10 years for kidnapping after a lengthy appeals process.
- The murder of Jara is regarded as one of the most heinous crimes committed during the Pinochet dictatorship, which lasted from 1973 to 1990 and resulted in approximately 3,200 victims.
- Seven retired military officers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years for their involvement in Jara's death, just weeks before the 50th anniversary of the coup.
Nelson Haase, a former military officer, was convicted for the kidnapping and murder of Victor Jara, a beloved folk singer, who was brutally killed with 44 bullets on September 16, 1973, just days after Pinochet's coup. Haase was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but fled upon the announcement of his sentence in August 2023.1234
The Supreme Court of Chile upheld a final judgment after five years of appeals, sentencing Haase to 15 years for murder and 10 years for kidnapping. He was apprehended in Puyehue, located in the Los Lagos region, approximately 950 km (590 miles) south of Santiago. The Justice Department confirmed his capture, stating, "An order has been issued for the imprisonment of retired military officer Nelson Haase Mazzei."
The murder of Jara is regarded as one of the most heinous crimes committed during the Pinochet dictatorship, which lasted from 1973 to 1990 and resulted in approximately 3,200 victims, including those killed and disappeared. On August 28, 2023, as the 50th anniversary of the coup approached, seven retired military officers were sentenced for their involvement in Jara's death, with prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years.56
“Nelson Haase, 80, was found in Puyehue, 950 km south of Santiago, after fleeing his 25-year sentence announced in August 2023. The Supreme Court's final judgment sentenced him to 15 years for murder and 10 for kidnapping, highlighting the ongoing pursuit of justice for crimes committed during Chile's dictatorship.”
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