Official reports state that Pablo Neruda died of prostate cancer; his driver Manuel Arraya claims he was poisoned. Eduardo Conteras, a lawyer central to the push for an investigation, drew connections between Neruda’s death and the suicide, two weeks beforehand, of the Chilean president, Salvador Allende: “There were three main voices who could have continued [political dissidence in Chile]. There was Allende, Víctor Jara [a popular folk singer] and Pablo Neruda. Allende died on the day of the coup, Jara soon after, the only one left was Neruda. Why not eliminate the third symbol? I can't assure that he was killed or who might have done it, but there are too many suspicious acts..." These allegations picked up momentum, urging Judge Maro Carraoza to order Neruda’s body exhumed and forensically examined.

Dr. Sergio Draper, a key witness, originally claimed to have been by Neruda’s side at the time of his death, but now states that a “Dr. Price” assumed responsibility for Neruda’s care just before he died. Though there is no record of a “Dr. Price” the man is depicted as being tall with blond hair and blue eyes. Some speculate that this matches the description of CIA agent Michael Townley. Townley was known to have assisted secret police and admitted killing critics of those in power whom he supported. He was also convicted of murdering Orlando Letelier, former Chilean ambassador to the US. However, experts on Chile’s dictatorship-era insist that the investigation would veer off course if Townley were seriously considered a suspect. Either way, Townley will be difficult for the Chilean police to locate. The CIA double agent is in the federal witness protection program.

More information: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/2013/06/chilean-judge-seeks-man-potentially-involved-in-pablo-nerudas-death

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-experts-townley-killed-neruda-19314413#.Ua4i4-jlW_U