American teenager whose death was ruled a suicide was 'raped and beaten,' new information suggests

Phone logs and crime scene photos cast doubt on the original story of the 16-year-old's death

Alex Villamayor, left, poses shortly before his death in Paraguay in 2015 (Facebook/Alex Villamayor)

New details have emerged in the alleged murder of an American teenager in Paraguay. Once ruled a suicide, prosecutors are now treating the case as a rape and murder, based on phone logs, crime scene photos, and interviews with suspects.

Sixteen-year-old Alex Villamayor died more than two and a half years ago, during a visit to a friend's family ranch in Encarnacion, Paraguay. The last time he spoke to his father, former Paraguayan congressman Luis Villamayor, he called to report that he and his friends were drinking mushroom tea on the property. The phone call cut off, and Mr Villamayor never heard from his son again.

The death was initially ruled a suicide. Now, new evidence in the case has emboldened prosecutors who are treating the case as a murder.

Crime scene photos show Alex was shot on the right side of his head, while the gun was found in his left hand, according to the Daily Beast. There was no gun residue discovered on his body, or any of his friends’. Family members said the clothes he was found dressed in were not his own.

A medical examiner discovered bruises all over the teenager’s body, including on his genitals, according to Villamayor family lawyer Pablo Fernández. The examiner also discovered semen in his anus, Mr Fernández told Ultima Hora.

Phone records obtained by the Daily Beast reportedly show René, the friend whose house Alex was visiting, had called his father more than 50 times that day, starting at 3 am. Both Rene and his friend Alain initially said they had woken up at 6 am to find Alex dead.

In August, Paraguayan news outlets reported that Mathias Wilbs, a worker at the ranch, had confessed to moving the boy's body and putting a gun in his hand. He later admitted to having done so to protect René, according to Ultima Hora.

So far, Paraguayan officials have denied the FBI’s assistance in the case. Both René and Wilbs are in prison on charges of premeditated murder, but they have not gone to trial. Alain was indicted for murder more than two years ago, but was acquitted before the investigation was completed.

Alex’s aunt, Kim Luk, is lobbying to change American laws to mandate the FBI become involved when a US citizen is killed abroad.

“More people have to understand what happens to you when you travel overseas,” Ms Kim told the Daily Beast. “We’re in an administration right now that is seeking Americans first. This is a perfect time for us to change laws.”