1998 Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa attack

Thirteen American students were attacked in Guatemala 1998 Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa attack Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala January 16, 1998 3:30–5:00 pm UTC-6 Assault, rape, robbery 13 students, 5 of whom were raped; 2 professors, 1 administrator, 1 bus driver On January 16, 1998, thirteen American students were attacked and robbed at gunpoint while on a school-sponsored trip to Guatemala; five of the participants were raped.5 students raped in Guatemala – St. Mary's College tour group's bus overtaken by bandits Timothy Wheeler Dana Hedgpeth https://www.newspapers.com/image/172951334 subscription The Baltimore Sun January 19, 1998 November 4, 2021 The case led to attention from the highest levels of the American and Guatemalan governments, including then-US president Bill Clinton, and added to growing concerns about whether the safety of students was adequately protected while studying abroad.Guatemala Rapes Raise Concerns Over Study Trips James Risen James Risen Marc Lacey https://www.newspapers.com/image/159636994 subscription Los Angeles Times January 20, 1998 November 4, 2021 The students were studying at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Background This was the third year in which the college had been offering annual tours for students to Guatemala. The 17-day tours were conducted during the winter recess and were offered for college credit. There had been no significant problems on either of the previous tours. However, violence against women had been rising in the area. In December 1997, a public bus was hijacked with everyone being robbed.Protecting Public Surface Transportation Against Terrorism and Serious Crime: Continuing Research on Best Security Practices, MTI Report 01-07 https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1142&context=mti_publications 2025-01-31 Four other American women were raped in Guatemala in other incidents in July and August 1997.5 From Md. College Sexually Assaulted On Guatemala Trip Chen David https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/19/us/5-from-md-college-sexually-assaulted-on-guatemala-trip.html The New York Times January 19, 1998 November 15, 2015 subscription Details The group consisted of 13 students—12 women and 1 man—along with two faculty members and an administrator from St. Mary's College. According to the Boston Globe, they arrived in Guatemala without a clear itinerary and without knowing the location of their hotel. Near the end of their trip, they took a tour bus from Guatemala City to the rural community of Xojola, and had passed by Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa on their way to Xojola when they were attacked.Terrorism a new test for US students abroad Gowen Annie https://www.newspapers.com/image/443075858/ subscription The Boston Globe January 27, 2003 November 2, 2020 At about 3:30 pm on January 16, 1998, their bus was forced off the road by at least four gunmen (seven according to a later report by CBC News). Gunshots were fired to force the driver to pull into a ditch alongside the road. The bus was forced into a nearby sugar cane field where it was not visible from the road. All of the people in the group were robbed, and the gunmen were disappointed that they weren't carrying more cash. This might have led the gunmen to escalate the attack from robbery to rape.Five Maryland college students raped in Guatemala – Frustrated gunmen vent anger over lack of money carried by victims Alfonso Lopez https://www.newspapers.com/image/440376288 subscription The Daily Republican January 19, 1998 November 4, 2021 The students were frisked and groped, and five women were then methodically selected to be raped. One was raped on the bus and the other four were raped in the field.Are We All Dead? Professor Recalls Fear in Guatemala https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1998/1/20/19358758/are-we-all-dead-professor-recalls-fear-in-guatemala Associated Press The Deseret News January 20, 1998 A2 October 16, 2021 October 16, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211016034935/https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1998/1/20/19358758/are-we-all-dead-professor-recalls-fear-in-guatemala dead The passengers exiting the bus were required to lie face down as each of the five women, one at a time, were raped multiple times. The women who were raped were aged 19 and 20.Traveling in a Troubled Land John Anderson https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/stmarysrape/stmarysrape.htm The Washington Post January 22, 1998 November 15, 2015 The rape victims returned to the United States on January 17, 1998, with the rest of the group following the next day. Criminal trial Two of the rape victims returned to Guatemala in January 1999 to testify against their attackers. The accused men were Cosby Urias, a 37-year-old laborer; Rony Polanco, a 25-year-old driver; and Reyes Guch Ventura, a 25-year-old peddler.U.S. students testify in Guatemala rape trial http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-students-testify-in-guatemala-rape-trial-1.178819 CBC News January 21, 1999 November 15, 2015 All three men were convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison: 18 years for rape and 10 years for robbery.3 Guatemalans Get Jail in Tourist Rapes https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/09/world/3-guatemalans-get-jail-in-tourist-rapes.html subscription Reuters The New York Times February 9, 1999 November 15, 2015 Aftermath and civil lawsuit Following the attack, the college stopped offering trips to Guatemala for student groups, but continued to organize trips to other destinations including Belize, Hungary and Italy. Three of the students sued the college and the professors who planned and led the trip, alleging that they were negligent and failed to take reasonable steps to inform them and protect them despite published warnings from the U.S. State Department about other recent, similar attacks.McMurtrie Beth College Settles Suit by 3 Students Over '98 Attack in Guatemala https://www.chronicle.com/article/college-settles-suit-by-3-students-over-98-attack-in-guatemala/ The Chronicle of Higher Education 5 July 2002 September 29, 2022Rohter Larry Larry Rohter Travel Advisory: Correspondent's Report: After Attack, Guatemala Steps Up Security Efforts https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/22/travel/travel-advisory-correspondent-s-report-after-attack-guatemala-steps-up-security.html The New York Times 22 March 1998 September 29, 2022 The named defendants included the two professors who planned and led the trip: William Roberts, professor of anthropology, and Jorge Rogachevsky, professor of Latin American studies; additional defendants were the board of trustees, the college president, and an administrator who accompanied the trip. One victim sued for $5 million; another for $500,000; and third for $250,000.College Sued Over Attack on Trip Annie Gowen https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2001/02/01/college-sued-over-attack-on-trip/29547d50-5ba8-49d0-8553-ce0749cbe160/ The Washington Post February 1, 2001 November 15, 2015 One of the plaintiffs said she filed the lawsuit to raise awareness of the need for colleges to understand risks and make better decisions. The lawsuit was eventually settled, with one plaintiff receiving $100,000 (the maximum amount allowed by law due to the college being a state-operated institution); another $65,000; and the third $30,000. The college president Jane Margaret O'Brien said the college was not responsible but was willing to settle the lawsuit to avoid the pain to all of going to trial.Students Settle Suit Over Guatemala Attack Annie Gowen https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/07/03/students-settle-suit-over-guatemala-attack/6a3255ea-7b78-4f37-aae8-5a1e43988592/ The Washington Post July 3, 2002 November 15, 2015 References 2 Category:1998 crimes in North America Category:Attacks in Guatemala Category:Gang rape in North America Category:Incidents of violence against women Category:January 1998 crimes in North America Category:January 1998 in North America Category:Attacks on tourists in North America Category:Rape in Guatemala Category:School sexual abuse scandals