Witness Protection

A lawyer in San Pedro Sula accused of revealing the identity of a protected witness was released on condition of biweekly check-ins with authorities, pending trial on charges of obstructing justice.

Walter Peña, whose daughter Angie disappeared in Roatán in January 2022, says he has received written threats demanding he stop giving interviews and pursuing the case, but he will not be silenced and believes his daughter is still alive.

Dereck McNeil, a protected witness in the investigation of the 2022 disappearance of student Angie Peña, was shot and killed Monday on Roatán by armed gunmen; authorities are investigating how his identity as a protected witness was leaked.

Dereck McNiel, a tourism businessman and son of prominent attorney Claudeth McNiel, was shot and killed on August 17 while driving in Roatán after dropping his child at school; he had been a protected witness in the investigation into the 2022 disappearance of Angie Peña, though authorities have not yet confirmed a motive.