Venezuelan Boxer Edwin Valero Found Dead In Jail Cell, Was Held On Suspicion Of Wife's Murder

Venezuelan boxer Edwin Valero was found dead in his jail cell this morning, he was discovered by another inmate. Valero was being held in connection to his 20-year-old wife’s murder after she had been treated for marks of domestic abuse in the weeks leading up to her death.

The boxers wife, Jennifer Viera, had been treated for various bruises and a damaged lung in March, but later told doctors that her husbands account that she had fallen through a doorway was correct:

Last month, Valero was charged with harassing his wife and threatening medical personnel who treated her at a hospital in the western city of Merida. Police arrested Valero following an argument with a doctor and nurse at the hospital, where his wife was being treated for a series of injuries, including a punctured lung and broken ribs.

The Attorney General’s Office said in a statement that Valero was detained March 25 on suspicion of assaulting his wife, but his wife told a police officer her injuries were due to a fall. When the boxer arrived moments later, he forbade Viera from speaking to the police officer, and spoke threateningly to the officer, prosecutors said in a statement.

Valero was still alive when he was found, however paramedics and doctors were not able to stabilize him and he passed away just a short time later. According to prison officials, the boxer hung himself with his own clothing. [USAToday]