What happened
A small sect led by Ramón Castillo, known as Antares de la Luz, killed a newborn in a ritual in rural Chile in 2012.
The investigation
The crime came to light after former members and relatives provided information. Police identified participants and searched for Castillo after the group dispersed.
What the courts or investigators concluded
Castillo died by suicide in Peru while a fugitive. Several followers were convicted in Chile for their roles in the crime.
Why the case remains significant
The case remains a disturbing study of coercive control, charismatic authority and the way an isolated group can normalize increasingly extreme beliefs and actions.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.