Daniel Murguía Ward

Murguía Ward was a consecrated Sodalit layman who reached the level of perpetual profession. He reportedly was close to Figari and worked as his cook, as nurse to Figari’s parents, and as his personal secretary.

On October 27, 2007, Lima police found him in a hotel room near Plaza San Martín with an 11-year-old boy whose trousers were down. Murguía was holding a digital camera. The boy told police Murguía had tricked him into undressing and had performed oral sex on him.  According to the 2019 report issued by the Congressional commission, the camera also held photographs of two other minors. Murguía denied the boy’s account.

The Sodalicio expelled Murguía two days after his arrest. The Congressional commission’s later probe of the case included allegations that the Sodalicio had destroyed evidence that would further incriminate Murguía. The commission also found that the Sodalicio had provided no help to the child and had deliberately withheld files from law enforcement.

A Lima higher court acquitted Murguía of rape of a minor on January 7, 2009. The Supreme Court upheld the acquittal on June 30, 2011. The court relied on the child’s changed statement that he had only been photographed. The Congressional commission criticized the ruling and said a child-pornography charge should have been possible. Prosecutors named Murguía again in 2017-2018 among those accused with Figari. The criminal case against Murguía and the other criminally accused Sodalicio leaders was permanently dismissed in 2024.

In 2019, Murguía refused to appear before the Congressional commission, and a court order to force him to do so was not carried out.