Full Breakdown
Fugitive Convicted of Victor Jara’s Murder Captured in Southern Chile
7/27/2026, 9:34:55 PM
Capture of Nelson Haase
Chilean authorities have taken into custody former military officer Nelson Haase Mazzei, an 80-year-old fugitive convicted of the 1973 killing of folk singer-songwriter Victor Jara. The Justice Department announced that an order was issued for Haase’s imprisonment after he was located in the Los Lagos region, roughly 590 miles south of Santiago.
Background: Jara’s 1973 Killing and 2023 Sentencing
Victor Jara, a leading figure of the New Chilean Song movement, was tortured and shot 44 times on September 16, 1973, five days after General Augusto Pinochet’s coup that ousted President Salvador Allende. In 2023, a Chilean court sentenced seven retired officers for Jara’s death to terms ranging from eight to 25 years. Haase received a 25-year sentence but fled before authorities could detain him. Another convicted officer, General Hernán Chacón, died by suicide when police attempted his arrest in 2023; the remaining five serve prison terms, including Pedro Barrientos, who was apprehended by ICE in Florida.
Official Statements & Responses
The Justice Department’s statement confirmed the issuance of an arrest order for Haase.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Victor Jara, age 40 at death.
- Method: 44 bullet wounds; severe facial and hand injuries documented in 2023 court files.
- Sentences for the seven officers: 8–25 years; Haase’s sentence was 25 years.
- Total death-toll of the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990): approximately 3,200 killed or disappeared.
Verbatim Quotes
- “An order has been issued for the imprisonment of retired military officer Nelson Haase Mazzei,” — the Justice Department
The capture of Haase closes a chapter that began with the brutal repression of Chile’s cultural icons and underscores ongoing efforts to hold former regime members accountable.
