Papo Newman
Encyclopedia
Francisco 'Papo' Newman is a Puerto Rican who was convicted of murder, after allegedly participating in the murder of the Puerto Rican
television entertainer Luis Vigoreaux
on January 17, 1983. Newman was arrested, confessed to the crime, and testified against his accomplices in exchange for a reduced sentence. He identified David López Watts as his accomplice and Vigoreaux's wife Lydia Echevarría
as the mastermind (in 1986, she was found guilty and sent to prison for 254 years). Newman stated that he was addicted to drugs and that he had taken drugs before committing the crime.
Newman confessed that it was he who entered Vigoreaux's car and ordered Vigoreaux to drive to the place where the murder was committed. He also confessed that after López Watts stabbed Vigoreaux, he hit the victim on the head with a car wrench. Ultimately, Newman confessed that it was he who spread gasoline over Vigoreaux's car and set it on fire, burning Vigoreaux to death as he was still alive and locked in the trunk of the car.
Newman was charged with first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping
, conspiracy
, and aggravated damages. He has expressed regret about his actions, attributing his behaviour at the time to his drug addiction.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
television entertainer Luis Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux Rivera was a Puerto Rican radio and television show host, announcer, comedian and producer. The son of a sugar worker, Vigoreaux became one of the most popular television entertainers in Puerto Rico's history....
on January 17, 1983. Newman was arrested, confessed to the crime, and testified against his accomplices in exchange for a reduced sentence. He identified David López Watts as his accomplice and Vigoreaux's wife Lydia Echevarría
Lydia Echevarría
Lydia Echevarría is a Puerto Rican actress who was convicted of plotting the murder of her husband, renowned Puerto Rican television show producer, Luis Vigoreaux.-Early years:...
as the mastermind (in 1986, she was found guilty and sent to prison for 254 years). Newman stated that he was addicted to drugs and that he had taken drugs before committing the crime.
Newman confessed that it was he who entered Vigoreaux's car and ordered Vigoreaux to drive to the place where the murder was committed. He also confessed that after López Watts stabbed Vigoreaux, he hit the victim on the head with a car wrench. Ultimately, Newman confessed that it was he who spread gasoline over Vigoreaux's car and set it on fire, burning Vigoreaux to death as he was still alive and locked in the trunk of the car.
Newman was charged with first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
, and aggravated damages. He has expressed regret about his actions, attributing his behaviour at the time to his drug addiction.