August 25, 1976
TO: ARA [American Republic Affairs] - Mr. Shlaudeman
THROUGH: ARA - Ambassador Ryan
FROM: ARA/BC - R.V. Fimbres / R.S. Driscoll / W.V. Robertson
SUBJECT: Charles Horman Case.
This case remains bothersome. The connotations for the Executive are not good. In the Hill, academic community, the press, and the Horman family the intimations are of negligence on our part, or worse, complicity in Horman's death. (While the focus of this memo is on Horman, the same applies to the case of Frank Teruggi.)
-- categorically to refute such innuendos in defense of U.S. officials;
-- to proceed against involved U.S. officials if this is warranted.
Without further thorough investigation we are in a position to do neither. At the moment we do not have a coherent account of what happened (see attached "Gleanings"). That is why we believe we should continue to probe.
-- The GOC [government of Chile] sought Horman and felt threatened enough to order his immediate execution. The GOC might have believed this American could be killed without negative fall-out from the USG [U.S. government].
There is some circumstantial evidence to suggest:
Our leads are:
-- Rafael Gonzalez: His mental condition is open to question. Yet this may be selective since he can also be pretty lucid. If he is unbalanced, it is for Chilean intelligence to explain why they kept him on the payroll for so many years and used him as contact with us on Horman. We should question him further along the lines suggested in the enclosure.
-- Enrique Sandoval's brother: Inquiry would have to be made with considerable discretion. Approaching the brother (most likely, Colonel Guillermo Sandoval Velasquez) to confirm Horman was shot at the stadium would be terribly sensitive. Revelation of his indiscretion in 1973 would endanger the Colonel and possibly others. We are skeptical that anything positive can be accomplished through this line of inquiry.
-- The GOC: The Chileans have failed satisfactorily to explain why Gonzalez was chosen to deal with our Consulate in the search for Horman's body. We could press them on this point. Preferably after we clarify a few things with Gonzalez. We could also ask for a complete copy of the autopsy of Horman's body, which we do not seem to have.
-- CIA: The Agency's comments on its relations with Gonzalez do not explain Gonzalez' knowledge of [one line deleted]. The [several words deleted] needs further illumination no matter CIA disclaimers. Further, we find it hard to believe that the Chileans did not check with [several words deleted] regarding two detained Americans when the GOC was checking with Horman's friends and neighbors regarding Horman's activities. [several words deleted] lack of candor with us on other matters only heightens our suspicions.
-- Coroner / morgue: We have accepted without questioning the morgue record that a body, later identified as Horman's, was dumped in the street and was logged into the morgue at 1330, 9/18. A death certificate was issued a week later and an autopsy was performed October 5 putting the time of death as 0945, 9/18. This implies that Horman was killed no later than about 17 hours after being detained. That is, he was shot early 9/18. This is in conflict with reports the Chilean intelligence was trying to get a line on Horman throughout the morning of 9/18. Is it possible the records are phony to conceal the time of death? And why?
-- DIA / FBI: We have asked INR [State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research] to question both DIA and FBI about any records they might have on Horman and Teruggi. [one line deleted] We may be wrong. This is an avenue we have to either follow or close.
-- Teruggi: Finally, the Horman and Teruggi links are interesting. Both worked for FIN (clipping service), did chores for Professor Fagin [sic; Richard R. Fagen, on leave from Stanford University] at the Ford Foundation, and both were arrested and almost immediately shot. Of 80 Americans who required the Embassy's attention, only these two appear to have been tortured and then shot. In their October 30 memo to Colonel [William] Hon the Chileans lumped them together as radicals. Gonzalez' statement that Horman was considered as knowing too much comes to mind. Further inquiry must tie in the circumstances of both deaths.
Attachment: