By Kate Dennett For Mailonline. A mass grave containing up to 40 bodies, most of them women, has been discovered at the house of a former cop-turned gang leader in El Salvador. The remains of at least 24 people have so far been recovered at the house in the municipality of Chalchuapa, northwest of the capital, San Salvador. Hugo Ernesto Osorio Chavez, whose home is on the same site as the graves, is one of at least 10 people facing charges, according to the office of the attorney general.
El Salvador officials confirmed on Thursday that they were excavating graves discovered at the house of the former police officer that contained as many as 40 bodies, most of them believed to be women. The remains of at least 24 people have so far been recovered at the house above of a former cop-turned gang leader in Chalchuapa, northwest of the capital, San Salvador. El Salvador officials confirmed they were excavating graves above found at the house of the former police officer that contained as many as 40 bodies, most of them believed to be women.
Hugo Ernesto Osorio Chavez, whose home is on the same site pictured as the graves, is one of at least 10 people facing charges, according to the office of the attorney general. Former police officer Osorio Chavez, who has previously been investigated for sex crimes, was detained on May 8 as the main suspect in the murder of a woman and her daughter, after neighbours alerted the authorities.
This led to police entering the year-old's home, which faces a sugar cane field, where they began to uncover the bodies. Neither Osorio nor his lawyer could immediately be reached for comment. Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro said DNA samples were being collected from area residents who had a missing relative to see if it matched with any of the bodies. Osorio Chavez, who has been investigated for sex crimes, was detained on May 8 as the main suspect in the murder of a woman and her daughter.
Pictured: Forensic expert at scene. His arrest led to police entering his home, which faces a sugar cane field pictured , where they began to uncover the bodies. Families of missing people pictured: ,Marleny Barrientos shows a picture of her son who went missing six years ago who believed their relatives could be among the bodies, gathered outside the house on Thursday.
