Retired colonel Nelson Haase Mazzei jailed for 1973 murder of folk singer Víctor Jara

More than five decades after the 1973 killing of Chilean folk singer Víctor Jara, the final individual still sought in connection with the crime has been apprehended. Nelson Haase Mazzei, a retired colonel, was among seven former soldiers sentenced in absentia in 2023 for the murders of Jara and a second victim; he fled Chile shortly after the verdict. Authorities located Mazzei earlier this year, confirming his identity and arrest, thereby closing the longest‑standing chapter of the case.

Mazzei’s capture marks the conclusion of an extensive investigation that has spanned generations, reflecting Chile’s ongoing efforts to address human‑rights violations from the Pinochet era. With the last fugitive now in custody, the judicial process can proceed to hold him accountable, fulfilling a longstanding demand for justice for Víctor Jara and his family.