Dominican convicted murderer who escaped prison twice is recaptured in Panama

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PANAMA CITY — Panamanian police on Thursday recaptured a Dominican man convicted of kidnapping and murdering five young people of Chinese descent, two weeks after he escaped prison for a second time.

National Police Director Jorge Miranda told local media that Gilberto Ventura Ceballos was found in the province of Chiriquí bordering Costa Rica.

Police recaptured Ventura Ceballos, a Dominican convicted of the murder of five university students of Chinese descent, whose second escape at the beginning of February embarrassed security authorities in Panama. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Authorities had announced Feb. 4 that Ventura Ceballos had escaped. The latest escape prompted the resignation of the country's security minister and the firing of the interior minister.

DOMINICAN MURDER SUSPECT ESCAPES PANAMA PRISON A 2ND TIME, OFFICIALS SAY

Ventura Ceballos was sentenced along with a fellow Dominican accomplice to 50 years in July 2018 for the abduction and killing of the five university students about a decade ago. He acknowledged murdering them and burying them beneath the floor of a home in the town of La Chorrera west of Panama City, authorities say.

Police officers escort prison escapee Gilberto Ventura Ceballos, center, to the police headquarters in Panama City, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Investigators said at least two were buried alive. The Dominicans, who ran a cell phone sales business, collected nearly a quarter-million dollars in ransom payments from relatives.

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Ventura Ceballos escaped the first time in December 2016. He was recaptured the following September in Costa Rica. He had dyed his hair and was living under a different name, working at an auto shop.