PUERTO RICO · PROFILE
Key Facts
- —What is happening Félix Plaud, a former statehood youth leader in Puerto Rico, was found shot dead in Guayama on Friday, 23 October 2026.
- —Why it matters Puerto Rico is a US territory, and Plaud was once a visible figure in its main pro-statehood party.
- —The numbers Plaud was last seen on Thursday evening, 22 October; his body was found at 1:57 pm the next day in Guayama.
- —Who is who Plaud led a statehood youth group; the New Progressive Party, or PNP, is the island’s pro-statehood party.
- —What to watch Police say the investigation continues, and no motive has been officially established for the killing of Plaud.
- —What it means for you For US readers, this is a local crime story in a US territory, and Puerto Rico police are investigating it.
Félix Plaud was a student leader of Puerto Rico’s statehood movement before he turned to business and government contracts. He died on 23 October 2026, and police are still investigating.
This profile of the Puerto Rico activist Félix Plaud draws only on named, dated reports. Police confirmed on Friday, 23 October 2026, that a man found shot dead in Guayama was Plaud.
Puerto Rico is a US territory, and its residents are US citizens. Plaud was known in the island’s politics long before his death.
In Plain English
- PNP: the New Progressive Party, Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood party.
- Statehood: making the island the 51st US state instead of a territory.
- NotiCel: a Puerto Rican news outlet that, El Nuevo Día says, investigated his contracts.
Puerto Rico Activist Félix Plaud and the Statehood Movement
Plaud was a young activist in the statehood movement, which wants Puerto Rico to become a US state. El Nuevo Día calls him a former president of the Juventud Puertorriqueña Estadista, a pro-statehood youth group.
El Vocero says he was known for decades for statehood activism and led the youth wing in his university years. It adds that he later moved into business and government contracting.
Business, Contracts and a 2013 Accusation
El Nuevo Día reports that companies he founded won government contracts worth more than US$4.4 million between 2010 and 2012. It attributes that figure to an investigation by NotiCel, which this profile could not open.
In 2013, Rafael Román, then the designated Education Secretary, publicly accused Plaud of defrauding the education system, Metro reported at the time. El Nuevo Día repeats the accusation in its 2026 profile.
No report read describes a charge, a court finding or any reply from Plaud. It remains an unproven accusation by one official.
His Last Days, as Police and Outlets Describe Them
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero say Plaud was last seen on Thursday, 22 October, at about 7 pm. Police could not yet say when he died.
Friday morning, a person close to him reported him missing, El Nuevo Día and El Vocero say. His body was found at about 1:57 pm near a Guayama gas station, El Nuevo Día reports.
Police say a man named William Noel Rivera Sánchez posted Facebook videos claiming he killed Plaud and Ponce lawyer Luis Quiñones González. Those claims are allegations, and police told El Vocero they should not be treated as corroborated facts.
Rivera Sánchez was later found dead in Santa Isabel, and El Vocero reports an apparent suicide. Police describe him as the main suspect, but say his death does not end the investigation.
Police say court records show an earlier financial dispute between the two men. They have not established a motive.
The full sequence is in the killings timeline. The first report is Puerto Rico Lawyer and Activist Shot Dead.
What It Means for US Readers
Puerto Rico is a US territory, so killings there are handled by local police under US law. The reports read describe no federal case.
For visitors, check travel.state.gov and local news before you travel, because conditions change. More island coverage is in the Puerto Rico hub, including a dengue update and a guide to claiming a Powerball prize.
What Is Not Known
No motive has been established by police. The claims in the videos are the words of one man who has died.
The exact time of Plaud’s death is not stated. Outlets differ on when he was reported missing, from 11 am to noon.
His family is not quoted in the reports read, and no funeral details were found. The contract figure rests on El Nuevo Día alone, citing a NotiCel investigation that was not opened.
What Comes Next
Police homicide units in Guayama and Ponce continue their work, and three firearms were seized at Rivera Sánchez’s home. Ponce detectives are also examining the circumstances of his death.
Any police update would show whether a motive is confirmed. No report read describes any criminal charge against Plaud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Félix Plaud?
He was a former leader of the pro-statehood youth movement in Puerto Rico. He later worked as a government contractor and merchant, according to El Nuevo Día and Metro.
What is the PNP in Puerto Rico?
The New Progressive Party is the island’s pro-statehood party. It wants Puerto Rico to become the 51st US state.
When and where was Félix Plaud found dead?
His body was found at about 1:57 pm on Friday, 23 October 2026. The spot was a lot near a gas station in the Borinquen district of Guayama.
Has a motive been established?
No. Police say the claims in the videos are being examined. They add that those claims are not confirmed facts.
Was Félix Plaud ever convicted of a crime?
None of the reports read describes a conviction. They mention a 2013 public accusation by an education official, with no court finding reported.
Sources: Metro Puerto Rico; El Nuevo Día, chronology; El Nuevo Día, profile; El Vocero; NotiCel; WAPA; Metro Puerto Rico, 14 March 2013 (all accessed 24 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief