[2] Soto was an anchorman and reporter for Canal 23 in the city of Olanchito, Yoro, and a co-producer of the show “Cuarto Poder” on Radio Full FM.
[1][3] Soto had just returned home from work and was putting his motorcycle away when he was shot at by multiple individuals who had been lying in wait.
“Authorities must fully investigate the murder of Nery Francisco Soto Torres, including the possibility of a link to his reporting, and bring those responsible to justice," the CPJ's deputy director, Robert Mahoney, said.
[7] On August 21, 2014, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the murder and urged the government of Honduras “to act urgently to identify the reasons for this crime and to investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators and instigators of this murder charge.”[1] Two of Soto's colleagues told the Committee to Protect Journalists after his murder “that he was well-liked and respected and that he was careful not to be confrontational or to cross any lines in his reporting.”[7] At the time of his death, however, according to Reporters Without Borders, he had been “investigating alleged corruption involving the mayor of the nearby city of Yoro, who is currently wanted for suspected money laundering.”[5] IFEX noted that although Soto's reportage was usually “impartial and unbiased,” his last few news reports had been concerned with “the rationing of electricity, and corruption amongst government workers.”[3] Another source noted that Soto had also recently criticized the frequent blackouts suffered by the population in the departments of Yoro and Bajo Aguan, and had been investigating a local criminal gang.
[1] In May 2014, on Journalist Day, Soto had been awarded the prize of “Newcomer of the Year” by the city of Olanchito in recognition of his “outstanding reporting.”[4]