SANTIAGO, Chile – The death of renowned poet Pablo Neruda, who died 50 years ago, continues to be shrouded in mystery. Allegations have emerged that Neruda was murdered on the orders of Chile’s former dictator, Gen Augusto Pinochet, but a decade-long investigation has yet to provide a definitive answer. Despite forensic examinations by experts in Canada, Denmark, and other countries, the cause of Neruda’s death remains inconclusive.

The poet’s former driver and personal assistant, Manuel Araya, made the initial allegation, but passed away earlier this year at the age of 77 without seeing a conclusion to the case. Neruda’s nephew, Rodolfo Reyes, has expressed the family’s desire for clarity and awaits a declaration from the judge overseeing the investigation.

Neruda died on September 23, 1973, just 12 days after the military coup that brought Pinochet to power. The poet had been suffering from prostate cancer, and his death certificate attributed his passing to “cancerous cachexia.” However, Araya claimed that Neruda was given a lethal injection to prevent him from fleeing the country and leading opposition against the Pinochet regime.

In recent developments, experts discovered traces of the bacterium clostridium botulinum in Neruda’s tooth, leading to speculation that it could have played a role in his death. Clostridium botulinum produces a deadly toxin and has been used as a biological weapon in the past. Nevertheless, there is currently no definitive proof that Neruda’s death was caused by this bacterium or intentionally induced using it.

The case has created divisions within Chilean society and the Neruda family. While Rodolfo Reyes believes his uncle was murdered, another nephew, Bernardo Reyes, dismisses the investigation as “pathetic” and denies any foul play. The Neruda Foundation, responsible for managing the poet’s estate, maintains that Neruda died of natural causes. Neruda’s widow, Matilde Urrutia, never claimed that her husband was murdered, believing instead that he died of a broken heart due to the political turmoil.

Prosecutors have interviewed numerous individuals, including medical professionals, diplomats, and political figures, along with friends who were with Neruda during his final days. Although some witnesses described him as gravely ill, others saw no signs of imminent death. Araya explained the delay in his murder claim, stating that it would have been too dangerous to make such an allegation during the dictatorship and that later attempts to gain media coverage were unsuccessful.

Despite ongoing investigations, the truth behind Pablo Neruda’s death remains unresolved. The judge overseeing the case, Paola Plaza, is expected to issue her assessment, but it is unclear when that will happen.