could have easily opposed the coup with his own contingent of troops stationed at the presidential palace, but was coerced into surrendering by being shown his mother and sister held with rifles to their heads. Prosecution In 1999 the Audiencia Nacional of Spain began criminal proceedings for accusations of torture and genocide against the Maya population after a formal petition introduced by Rigoberta Menchú. However, the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal denied the extradition on 22 June 2005, arguing "...medical reports from García's wife showing that her husband is severely affected by the Alzheimer's disease". He died in exile in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, where he had lived for 12 years with his wife Elsa Cirigliano, suffering from Alzheimers and various other ailments, at the age of 81. In May 2018, his brother Bendicto Lucas Garcia, who served as his Army Chief of Staff, would receive a 58 year prison sentence after being convicted for a 1981 incident which involved torture and rape. See also Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio Franja Transversal del Norte Guatemalan Civil War Kjell Eugenio Laugerud Garcia Notes and references Notes References Bibliography Violence and Genocide in Guatemala Yale University Presidents of Guatemala People of the Guatemalan Civil War Institutional Democratic Party politicians Guatemalan generals 1924 births 2006 deaths People from Alta Verapaz Department Deaths from dementia in Venezuela Deaths from Alzheimer's disease 20th-century Guatemalan people Guatemalan politicians convicted of crimes Genocide perpetrators Defense Ministers of Guatemala