Lima, Peru: Twenty-three years after the brutal massacre of more than 50 people in the community of Accomarca (Ayacucho, Peru), the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team (EPAF) has successfully identified the remains of six of the victims.

The successful identifications resulted from DNA work completed by Bode Laboratories and the comparison of data collected by EPAF forensic anthropologists.

“The victims’ remains were found in very bad condition,” an EPAF staff member said. “DNA was the only way to make an identification given that state, and we were worried that even that wouldn’t work. It was not possible to identify all the remains, which is sad for the families of the victims, but these six identifications are very important because they prove that the people found in the grave are indeed the people thought to be there.”

The massacre occurred on August 14, 1985. According to testimonies, after arriving to the plaza of Llocllapampa for a community assembly, residents were ushered into three separate houses by the military. Accusing all of membership in the Shining Path, soldiers assassinated everyone, setting every house on fire and throwing grenades inside.

The identified victims include four adult women and two children.

EPAF is a partner of The Advocacy Project.

For more information, read EPAF’s press release.