Rafael Acosta

On 22 June 2019, Acosta Arévalo's wife denounced his disappearance and stated that he had spoken with him for the last time at 2:00 p.m. of the previous day, while he was in a "personal meeting" in Guatire, Miranda.

Due to the death of the captain, the delegation of Guaidó in negotiations with the Maduro government suspended their trip to the third round of talks. On 2 July 2019, Acosta Arévalo was posthumously promoted to frigate captain by Guaidó in representation of the National Assembly.

According to the preliminary autopsy report, the cause of death was severe cerebral edema due to acute respiratory failure, leading to pulmonary thromboembolism, the product of rhabdomyolysis due to widespread polytrauma — lack of brain function after multiple physical injuries.

Rafael Ramón Acosta Arévalo (16 June 1969 – 29 June 2019) was a Venezuelan military officer with the rank of corvette captain of the Armed Forces. Acosta Arévalo was victim of forced disappearance and tortured by agents of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) during his detention after being accused by the government of Nicolás Maduro of "conspiring to carry out an attempted coup d'état". Acosta Arévalo died as a result of injuries suffered while in detention in the Military Hospital of the Army Dr. Vicente Salias Sanoja. The news of his death caused great impact in the media and the condemnation of both national and international authorities.