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The CNN iReporter Chris Pagan who originally brought this story out of Puerto Rico has been updating his iReport page, and the details of the murder and dismemberment of 19-year-old Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado are coming out both through his page and now through other sites.

A Pam’s House Blend reader has offered a great translation of the Puerto Rican newspaper, Primera Hora, explaining that the murderer confessed after he was arrested and claimed “gay panic:”

Juan A. Martínez

The Criminal Investigations Department of Guayama is holding Juan A. Martínez, the 26 year old confessed killer of the gay young man Jorge Steven López, in police custody.

Prosecutor José Bermúdez explained that the accused said he went to Pavial Street in Caguas on Friday and after making a few attempts to pick up a prostitute, Jorge allegedly approached him dressed as a woman, and José invited him into his vehicle thinking he had picked up a female prostitute.

He said that he did not know that the victim was really a man and they went to his apartment in the neighborhood Beatriz de Cidra, where Steven allegedly suggested that he have anal sex with him, which enraged him and caused him to murder the victim.

More from Primera Hora, The Task Force, Congressman Jose Serrano. Plus video of local news.

Prosectutor Bermúdez also added, “He (Martínez) claims that Steven tried to stab him, and that he therefore grabbed a kitchen knife and in a fit of rage stabbed, dismembered and decapitated the victim and later took his remains and left them in Guavate area of Cayey.”

Among other claims by the confessed killer is that in 2003 he was arrested for domestic violence and that during his prison confinement he was molested and that is why he dislikes homosexuals.

The authorities said that this case has been resolved thanks to the cooperation of the local GLBT community. Investigating Detective Ángel Rodríguez and the Prosecutor are currently questioning the suspect preparatory to his being moved to detention in Guayama and charged with first degree murder. The Prosecutor also indicated that he will request that the judge consider that this offense be treated as a hate crime.

At the suspect’s home the police recovered two knives used to commit the murder, which the suspect later threw into a septic tank.

At the moment jurisdiction over this case is awaiting the assignment of a prosecutor from Caguas, since the crime occurred in Cidra which is part of that judicial district.

CNN has also finally picked up the story.

The Task Force’s Rea Carey released a statement:

“The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force stands in solidarity with the LGBT community in Puerto Rico and sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jorge Steven López. We urge local law enforcement authorities to continue their expedient work on this case. Fortunately, Puerto Rico has a local hate crimes statute, but it is imperative that federal authorities continue to monitor this ongoing investigation and step in if necessary or assist if asked, as allowed by the new federal hate crimes law.”

Congressman José E. Serrano of New York released this statement:

“I strongly condemn this horrible crime and urge that it be treated as the heinous hate-crime that it is,” said Serrano. “Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to address just this type of offense. I urge the federal government to provide Puerto Rican authorities with assistance in this investigation. The parties responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of either Puerto Rican law or our new federal hate crimes laws.

“I am particularly troubled by the alleged comments of one of the police investigators of this terrible act. Our justice system and our law enforcement officials should never allow their personal biases to interfere in their work investigating and enforcing the law.

“Gay teens in Puerto Rico, like gay teens anywhere, must be able to live in peace and feel safe in their communities. As a tolerant society, we must be vigilant about the rights of all and always ensure that the law is on the side of the vulnerable and the victimized.”

I think it’s remarkable that, through his own sense of justice, Chris Pagan got this horrifying news out to a larger world. Remarkable.