A man was arrested on Wednesday in La Plata, accused of beating a retired man to death. The incident occurred in the town of Villa Elisa, near the provincial capital. The suspect is Lionel Gonzalo Maciel, 29, who is suspected of killing 80-year-old Néstor Daniel Copoletti, who lived alone at 423 between 7 and 8. The retiree's body was found on Monday inside a small tool shed in the front yard of his property. The body was lying face up among tools and a bicycle in a pool of blood. Initially, the case was filed as an investigation into the causes of death, but forensic examinations quickly ruled out a natural or accidental death. The autopsy confirmed that Copoletti died from a brutal cranioencephalic trauma. Forensics determined he had multiple fractures to the skull vault and base, facial fractures, and a meningeal hemorrhage, caused by blows from a hard or blunt object. Additionally, experts detected injuries to the right hand consistent with an attempt at defense or a fight prior to the crime. The time of death was estimated to be 22 to 28 hours before the autopsy. As the investigation progressed, detectives noted some missing items from the home. According to their statements, they saw Maciel sweating and agitated shortly after the estimated time of the crime, a situation that caught their attention. However, there were no signs of forced entry, leading to suspicion that the attacker was a person known to the victim. Sources of the case indicated that Maciel is the son-in-law of the woman who cared for the retiree and worked as a gardener in the area. Investigators believe the motive for the attack was linked to the theft of clonazepam pills that were stolen from the victim. Witnesses proved crucial in identifying the suspect. This was supported by the analysis of surveillance cameras, which located the accused circulating in the area and leaving on a bicycle after the attack.
