Born in the abandoned parish of Malimpia in Quinindé, a canton of Esmeraldas, one of the many forgotten areas of the country.
At the age of 10, he began his studies in the city of Esmeraldas at the "21 de Septiembre" School after having dedicated himself to helping his parents.
In 1998 he returned to the National Congress, his parliamentary activity was characterized by his denunciations of acts of corruption and the defense of the interests of the working class.
Sources loyal to the MPD state that Hurtado, his nephew, and his bodyguard were shot to death at 13:20 local time in a public place a short distance away from well-guarded government buildings.
One of the suspected assassins, Christian Steven Ponce, had fled Ecuador shortly after being arrested, and was caught in upstate New York in February 2007 when he was driving a car while not wearing a seat belt.