Attorney Peter Díaz, who represents former police officer Nidia Arce Rivera, said Monday that he has received multiple death threats from bloggers in the case over the March 15 crash on PR-2 in front of the Virgilio Dávila public housing complex in Bayamón that killed 19-year-old Dyanelys Ortiz López. Díaz said he has gone to the authorities but acknowledged he has not filed a formal complaint.
"I have 31 years as a criminal defense lawyer and I had never received so many attacks as in this case," he said on Radio Isla 1320. He said the evidence "speaks for itself" and that he would prefer the case end without him making more evidence public. According to the victim’s father, Díaz had called his daughter a "capiadora" (a woman who lures victims for robbers).
The autopsy was negative for substance use, but Díaz questioned the result because the test was done 31 days later, and said he expects different results once he obtains the medical records from the day of the incident. He alleged Ortiz López had a link to drug use, citing more than 37 photos, and said her partner died recently and had controlled substances and paraphernalia seized.
He offered two theories: that she crossed the road under the influence, or that problems with her partner led her to cross, pointing to a possible suicide. The preliminary hearing is set for November 18, 2026.