4 arrested in slaying of Mayan spiritual guide in Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY – Four people have been arrested in connection with the killing of a well-known Mayan spiritual guide and natural medicine expert, Guatemala’s National Civilian Police said Tuesday.

Authorities said the suspects went to the home of the victim, Domingo Choc Ché, on Saturday because they believed he had been performing witchcraft at a relative’s gravesite. They beat him for hours and on Sunday doused him with gasoline and set him on fire, officials alleged.

Choc Ché, known as “Grandfather Domingo,” had participated in a number of scientific research projects on Mayan natural medicine that yielded papers and books in collaboration with universities in England and Switzerland. He was an “ajilonel,” a Mayan medical specialist, a type of expert therapist in natural medicine.

Among those arrested was a 24-year-old who allegedly told relatives that Choc Ché had sent him to the grave to deposit dirt for witchcraft. Also arrested were two brothers and a cousin. All four were charged with murder, police said.

The incident occurred in Chimay, San Luis Petén, north of the capital.