The death threats came rolling in shortly after Gimena Silva's husband was detained on accusations that he took part in a failed coup in Bolivia.
"They call us, they say that if we do anything, say anything, they're going to disappear us. They threaten not just us, but our children too," Silva said. "They're anonymous calls and they say they will kill our kids."
Now, Silva, a mother of three children, sat with her mother and brother crying at the doors of a jail clinging to any news of her husband, Luis Domingo Balanza.
Balanza, a military major of more than 15 years, was among 21 people arrested after a group of military and armored vehicles attempted what the government has called a "failed coup d'etat."
Those families appeared visibly confused and anxious in the jail where their loved ones were kept on Friday, saying they knew nothing of a plot in the lead-up to Wednesday's spectacle. Many families of those detained say their loved ones were simply "following orders" or told they were carrying out a "military exercise."
On Friday, the government announced additional arrests of soldiers, bringing the total up to 21, including former Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga, who led the failed coup.
Images from Bolivia shocked the world on Wednesday as an armored car rammed into the government palace in La Paz, the country's seat of government, and military officers fled after embattled President Luis Arce said his government was not backing down.
The general, who was sacked by Arce amid the chaos, claimed that he stormed the government office as a favour to Arce to earn him political favour at a time of deep economic discontent in Bolivia, stirring doubt in many.
Zuniga's lawyer, Stiven Orellana, told The Associated Press that prosecutors planned to charge Zuniga with the crimes of terrorism and starting an armed uprising. He said he could not provide more details on the case.
Around 200 military officers took part in the attempted coup, Bolivia's ambassador to the Organization of American States said Thursday.
"These people commanded the destruction of Bolivian heritage," said senior Cabinet member Eduardo del Castillo said in a press conference.
Del Castillo was echoed by hundreds of protestors roaring outside the jail and other government buildings on Friday, carrying posters reading "Zuniga, traitor, coup leader, respect the state."
Inside, crying families told another story.
Silva and her mother, Daniela, said their family was left economically "devastated" with no income to care for their three children. The family was among those that said their father was simply following orders, asked to step away from an online course and head to the plaza outside the governmental palace. Silva said her husband later turned himself over.
"How are we going to feed our family," Daniela, who asked not to be identified by her last name due to the threats. "I can't think of the future, what future can someone who has been implicated, who has been treated like this."
She added: "My son isn't a villain...he's just a subordinate. He safeguarded his patrimony and they took advantage of him."
Families and lawyers of defendants interviewed by the AP could share few details about their family members' cases and legal arguments because they were in the wake of legal proceedings but most said they sought "justice" for those detained.
Others like Nubia Barbery said her husband, Col. Raul Barbery Muiba, was instructed by Zuniga to carry out a "military exercise". Upon entering the square, Barbery said he left, telling Zuniga that he was "tricked," calling her shortly afterward.
The families' claims add an extra layer of confusion to doubts already sewed by Zuniga Wednesday night about the veracity of the coup.
Upon his swift arrest, he alleged, without providing evidence, that Arce ordered him to carry out the rebellion, prompting political opposition to dub the case a "self-coup."
Zuniga claimed the takeover was all a ruse to boost Arce's flagging popularity as he struggles to manage a spiralling economy, deepening political divisions and bubbling public discontent. Arce on Thursday vigorously denied accusations.
The embattled president is vying with powerful ex-President Evo Morales over who will be their party's candidate in the presidential election next year.
The escalating political feud has left Bolivians disillusioned and bewildered as to what really happened during those three chaotic hours Wednesday when armored vehicles rolled into downtown La Paz and Arce confronted the putschists face-to-face and ordered them to back off.
Whether Zuniga's allegations about Arce are true -- or whether the disgruntled general simply sought to exploit Bolivia's mounting crises for his own benefit -- remains unclear.
Still many like Cintia Ramos were were outraged by Wednesday's chaos.
"Zuniga must pay the highest sentence for having attacked the Bolivian people," said 31-year-old Cintia Ramos, one of the protesters at the jail.
Families may say their loved ones are innocent, but Ramos said "this couldn't have been carried out by just one person. This person had allies, high-level allies. ... They should also be pay the highest sentence."
Police could be seen Friday morning marching Zuniga through the jail in handcuffs.
Shortly before, his wife, Graciela Arzacibia, kept her eyes downcast as she waited for the general to emerge from the police station. Holding a small bag of snacks, she expressed concern for her 6-year-old son, who, she said, believed his jailed father was simply away at work.
"I'm asking that they consider the families," she told the AP. "We haven't done anything."
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
Premier Doug Ford has removed a member of his caucus due to what he鈥檚 describing as 'serious lapses in judgment.' In a statement released Friday morning, the premier鈥檚 office said MPP Goldie Ghamari had been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus 'effective immediately.'
Marriage might be the oldest institution in the world, but it's struggling to adapt to the pressures of modern life. Registered psychologist Adisa Azubuike explains why it's more difficult today.
Hot on the heels of the Conservatives' stunning byelection victory in the riding of Toronto鈥擲t. Paul's, new seat projection data from Nanos Research show ridings considered previously safe for the Liberals are increasingly up for grabs.
U.S. President Joe Biden forcefully tried on Friday to quell Democratic anxieties over his unsteady showing in his debate with former President Donald Trump, as elected members of his party closed ranks around him in an effort to shut down talk of replacing him atop the ticket.
Workers discovered human remains at recycling facility in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, CTV News has learned.
The Ontario government says it is cracking down on fraudulent tow truck drivers with a new certification requirement it calls a first among Canada's provinces.
Six people have been charged in a provincial human trafficking investigation that identified five survivors from Greater Sudbury.
If you are clogging your clock app with multiple morning alarms, you鈥檙e setting yourself up for a groggy morning, experts say.
Billionaire businessman Frank Stronach stands charged with sexually assaulting seven additional complainants from 1977 to as recently as February, court documents filed Friday show, bringing the total number of accusers in his case to 10.
Nearly a decade behind schedule, the Canadian military鈥檚 long-promised naval refuelling station in the High Arctic could open as early as this summer, albeit with restrictions on the facility's operations and serious questions about its long-term viability.
The northeast鈥檚 only remaining supervised consumption site, Safe Health Site Timmins, is shutting down its safe consumption services at the end of the month.
Canadian economic growth rebounded in April, but early indications suggested it failed to maintain the momentum into May.
More than a year after police in Ontario unravelled a massive art fraud involving the works of Norval Morrisseau, the late Indigenous artist's family and estate say they're still paying the price for the decades-long scheme.
A grandfather and grandson duo proudly graduated alongside each other at the same northern Manitoba school.
U.S. President Joe Biden's halting debate performance has led some in his own party to begin questioning whether he should be replaced on the ballot before November.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris knew she had to go to bat for President Joe Biden as devastating reviews of the president's debate performance rolled in late Thursday night, aiming to strike a balance between sounding reasonable about the president鈥檚 performance while also hammering home the contrast between the two candidates, two sources told CNN.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday limited a federal obstruction law that has been used to charge hundreds of Capitol riot defendants as well as former President Donald Trump.
Officials in Bolivia announced Friday they had arrested four military officers in connection with a thwarted coup against President Luis Arce's government, broadening the case to include more suspects in the armed forces' takeover attempt that shocked the South American country.
The police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, failed to identify an active shooting, did not follow his training and made critical decisions that slowed the law enforcement response to stop a gunman who was 'hunting' victims and ultimately killed 21 people at Robb Elementary, according to an indictment unsealed Friday.
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a bid to delay a prison sentence for longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon as he appeals his conviction for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
Hot on the heels of the Conservatives' stunning byelection victory in the riding of Toronto鈥擲t. Paul's, new seat projection data from Nanos Research show ridings considered previously safe for the Liberals are increasingly up for grabs.
The Canadian Armed Forces was following "legal orders" when it tried to rescue a group of Afghan Sikhs during the fall of Kabul three years ago, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre said.
A vaccine-fearing father has been ordered not to discuss the HPV vaccine 鈥 or even the human papillomavirus itself 鈥 with his children after losing a battle against their mother in B.C. Supreme Court.
If you could make sunscreen with items found in your kitchen pantry, should you do it? Posts from social media influencers and bloggers including recipes to make your own sunscreen have been wildly circulated online, but the dermatologists who spoke to CTVNews.ca call it a 'horrible idea.'
If you are clogging your clock app with multiple morning alarms, you鈥檙e setting yourself up for a groggy morning, experts say.
Called 2024 MK, the space rock will make its closest approach to Earth Saturday morning, passing by at about three-quarters the distance from Earth to the moon. It was first spotted two weeks ago by a South African observatory and is about 393 feet to 853 feet (120 metres to 260 metres) wide.
Has your iPhone screen cracked, or does your MacBook battery not charge like it used to? Instead of sending it in to an Apple repair centre or scheduling an appointment with a Genius Bar, Canadians will soon be able to fix their own devices at home.
White-nose syndrome has been found in bats in the largest known hibernation area in the province.
While the Nicole Kidman-Zac Efron pairing should provoke curiosity, the tired beats of this romantic (and only occasional) comedy don鈥檛 rub together well enough to generate many sparks.
Eagles singer Don Henley filed a lawsuit in New York on Friday seeking the return of his handwritten notes and song lyrics from the band's hit 'Hotel California' album.
As well as being loved for his music, Elton John is known around the world for his unique sense of style. Now, the rock star is giving his fans the chance to own some of his eye-catching outfits.
Nike will roll out new US$100-and-under sneakers in countries around the world, its chief financial officer said Thursday, as the sportswear giant tweaks its product lineup in a plan aimed at getting sales back on track.
Shares of Trump Media, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, jumped 5% at the opening bell Friday after the first U.S. presidential debate, with some investors believing it could become a bigger mouthpiece for the former president if he is re-elected.
A Metro-Vancouver-based coffee chain has been fined thousands of dollars for failing to present and follow a recycling plan.
Marriage might be the oldest institution in the world, but it's struggling to adapt to the pressures of modern life. Registered psychologist Adisa Azubuike explains why it's more difficult today.
Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem went out to Chipotle to do some investigative work. Fadem and his team ordered and weighed 75 burrito bowls with white rice, black beans, chicken, pico de gallo, cheese and lettuce across eight Chipotle locations in New York City.
For all the time I spend digging, planting, pulling and weeding, one would think I鈥檇 have some poison ivy horror stories to tell, but I do not. I can鈥檛 say for sure whether I鈥檓 immune to the rash that tortures so many of my fellow gardeners or if I鈥檝e just been lucky, but one thing is for sure: The plant does pose a serious problem for many who come into contact with it.
Corey Conners isn't promoting a new putter or golf brand with his newest commercial. He's lending his name and prestige to promote fire safety across Ontario.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has been suspended for one match and will miss his team's last Copa America group match against Peru on Saturday.
Canada's Leylah Fernandez has advanced to the final of the Rothesay International grass-court tennis tournament. Fernandez, of Laval, Que., defeated defending champion Madison Keys 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in Friday's semifinal at the Wimbledon tune-up event.
It used to be cash was king and that you could get a better deal if you paid for a car in full, but now many dealers want you to finance your purchase so they can make more money.
Several stolen vehicles believed to have been used in organized and serious crime, including one homicide, have been found in Alberta during an investigation into an auto theft ring.
Data from Statistics Canada suggests that a vehicle is stolen every five minutes in the country. Now, police are investigating whether there's a connection between when and where a vehicle was last serviced, and the date it was stolen, they revealed to CTV National News.
A grandfather and grandson duo proudly graduated alongside each other at the same northern Manitoba school.
A large basking shark was captured close to the shoreline on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore.
The world's largest hockey stick could soon become the world's most in-pieces hockey stick as a Vancouver Island community prepares to tear down and carve up the Canadian landmark.
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it鈥檚 a matter of life or death.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery- Qaumajuq recently discovered that one piece in its collection is a fake and part of a massive art forgery ring that included more than 1,500 pieces.
Six-year-old Bruce Arthur Chang is the new grand champion of Canada in the UCMAS math competition, and says he is hoping to make a mark on the international stage.
Harold Brenton Anderson, who wore high heels for decades in Halifax and loved to travel, has died.
An Ottawa cat has morphed into a TikTok star, as he's slimming down from weighing 43 pounds.
Bill Neald is still living out his passion of playing baseball at the age of 90 in Regina鈥檚 Senior Mixed Slo-Pitch League.
Workers discovered human remains at recycling facility in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, CTV News has learned.
Mounties in northern British Columbia say an as-yet-unidentified drug trafficker could face serious consequences after a 16-year-old girl overdosed on fentanyl this week and remains in hospital in serious condition.
The British Columbia Review Board has ruled that Allan Schoenborn, who killed his three children in 2008, will keep his eligibility for up to 28 days of unescorted leave from a Metro Vancouver psychiatric hospital.
The non-profit group which runs Toronto's oldest operating movie theatre says it is seeking a court injunction after their landlord refused to renew a lease set to expire next week.
Billionaire businessman Frank Stronach stands charged with sexually assaulting seven additional complainants from 1977 to as recently as February, court documents filed Friday show, bringing the total number of accusers in his case to 10.
The Ontario government says it is cracking down on fraudulent tow truck drivers with a new certification requirement it calls a first among Canada's provinces.
City of Calgary officials warned residents about letting up on their conservation efforts at Friday's afternoon update regarding ongoing feeder main repairs and water restrictions.
Officials are asking Albertans to think twice before they start the celebrations this Canada Day long weekend.
The Calgary Flames hold the ninth overall pick in the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft, in a year where there is not much consensus about where the top prospects will be selected.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has removed Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari as a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus due to "serious lapses in judgement."
Merivale High School students Rohan Bahl and Matthew Zhou have spent hundreds of hours working on a year-end computer science project that has grown into something much larger than first anticipated.
CTV News Ottawa looks at things to do in Ottawa during the Canada Day long weekend.
Police say there are 'multiple fatalities' after a fiery crash in Laval Friday afternoon.
Montreal's Jewish General Hospital finds itself at the heart of a class action lawsuit for sexual abuse allegedly committed against children by two former social workers employed by its Child Psychiatry Department, Gino Londei and Steve Trowbridge.
The Montreal metro's special constables are warning of a major hike in crime on the city's underground public transport system, and with summer festivals and tourism spiking, they feel it's only likely to get worse.
One person has been charged in connection with a homicide at a Whyte Avenue apartment earlier this week.
Edmonton police are looking for a convicted sexual offender who has not checked in with his supervisor.
Police say charges are pending after a boy was killed and his mother and sister were injured in a crash in south Edmonton on Thursday.
The Fredericton Police Force has laid three charges against a Fredericton man in connection with an alleged assault in a public parking lot on Wednesday.
A 75-year-old man from Scotch Village, N.S., is facing multiple impaired driving offences in connection to a three-vehicle collision in Mount Uniacke that hospitalized five people on Thursday.
Nova Scotia RCMP is looking for four firearms after a break-in at a Whycocomagh business on Wednesday night.
A $586-million plan to widen and improve a section of Route 90 has cleared a hurdle at city hall, though it still remains unclear how the upgrades will be paid for.
Not a day goes by when Scott and Amanda Cadman don鈥檛 think about their son Kirk.
The inquest into the death of a Winnipeg man who was fatally shot by police determined that the officer had 鈥渘o viable options鈥 after failed attempts to use a Taser.
An 80-year-old Moose Jaw man who was reported missing earlier this week has been found dead.
Tornado watches have been issued for parts of southeastern Saskatchewan on Friday.
After 26 years with CTV Regina, Nelson Bird is ready for a new challenge.
Drama is usually reserved for the Stratford Festival stage, but on Thursday night, it played out at Stratford City Hall.
The countdown is on to Canada Day! Here鈥檚 a quick look at the celebrations happening in your neighbourhood.
A man, previously found guilty of first-degree murder in connection to a 2014 death in Kitchener, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
The Saskatoon Fire Department is investigating the cause of a house explosion Thursday night.
The Saskatchewan and federal governments have announced joint funding of $327 million for infrastructure projects.
An 80-year-old Moose Jaw man who was reported missing earlier this week has been found dead.
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
The northeast鈥檚 only remaining supervised consumption site, Safe Health Site Timmins, is shutting down its safe consumption services at the end of the month.
Anyone travelling along Highway 64 near Lavigne, Ont., should be on the lookout for bison crossing the road.
Western University says its patience is wearing thin. It also says it鈥檚 exploring options to shut down a pro-Palestinian protest on campus. In its latest message to the community, Western says it鈥檚 grappling with concerning and illegal behaviours.
A London man is in custody in relation to several investigations over the past two weeks.
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
A Notice to Terminate posted on the front door of a downtown Barrie establishment shortly after its closure states the owner owes thousands in rent and utilities, but the owner argues he paid for more than his fair share before closing up shop.
Starting Tuesday, Bayview Drive will be closed to through traffic from Little Avenue to Big Bay Point Road.
The woman who nearly died in a crash involving an impaired driver on Highway 26 in Springwater in 2022 gave an emotional victim impact statement on Friday.
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
Andrea Cavallini is one of 52 competitors at the Hobie Fishing World Championships in the town of Tecumseh. He is here from Tuscany, Italy and caught a 21 inch bass this morning, one of the biggest catches of the day.
Canada Border Services Agency officers seized three guns from a traveller at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.
A vaccine-fearing father has been ordered not to discuss the HPV vaccine 鈥 or even the human papillomavirus itself 鈥 with his children after losing a battle against their mother in B.C. Supreme Court.
Nearly a decade behind schedule, the Canadian military鈥檚 long-promised naval refuelling station in the High Arctic could open as early as this summer, albeit with restrictions on the facility's operations and serious questions about its long-term viability.
Mounties in northern British Columbia say an as-yet-unidentified drug trafficker could face serious consequences after a 16-year-old girl overdosed on fentanyl this week and remains in hospital in serious condition.
Mounties in Kelowna say a suspect is at large after a man was stabbed in the city Sunday afternoon.
Police are remaining tight-lipped about a woman鈥檚 death in a Kelowna park on Friday.
Police have identified a man found dead in B.C.鈥檚 Interior last weekend as Donald 鈥淒onnie鈥 Lyons.
The 122-year-old Raymond Stampede is set to get underway this weekend, but this year鈥檚 event will occur at a new location.
A picture of rage and determination among COVID-19 protesters at the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., was spelled out in text messages shown Thursday at a murder-conspiracy trial.
Dozens of farmers from across southern Alberta turned out Wednesday for Farming Smarter鈥檚 annual 2024 field school.
The Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards have returned for the first time in four years to celebrate arts in the region.
A wanted suspect who tried to flee police in Sault Ste. Ste Marie on Thursday has been charged with numerous offences after police seized a large cache of drugs.
Two hunters from northwestern Ontario have been fined a total of $9,500 in connection with a deer hunt two years ago.
A judge dismissed all sexual misconduct charges against a Newfoundland lawyer Thursday, saying repeated inconsistencies and falsehoods in the complainant's accounts eroded her credibility and left him unable to believe her allegations.
With rain coming down in central Labrador and temperatures dropping, the wildfire near Churchill Falls has been downgraded, although fire officials say there's still work to be done to keep the flames at bay.
The wildfire that forced the evacuation of Churchill Falls remains three kilometres from the community as the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador signalled cautious optimism.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.
