Ecuador’s former intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, have been buried in a private funeral in Guayas, weeks after they died in a helicopter crash in Kenya.
The couple was laid to rest on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Parque de la Paz cemetery in La Aurora, Daule, after their remains arrived in Ecuador from Kenya the previous day.
The funeral combined state honours with the family’s request for privacy, keeping the proceedings largely away from public and media attention.
According to Ecuadorian media reports, President Daniel Noboa attended the funeral alongside several members of his cabinet and senior government officials. The ceremony took place under a significant security operation involving police, military personnel and traffic officers.
The family of Sensi-Contugi and Hollihan had specifically asked for the farewell to remain strictly private.
Ecuadorian authorities said the family wanted to accompany the couple only with relatives, close friends and people who had been closest to them. The request remained in place even though Noboa had ordered state honours for the former intelligence chief.
The funeral rites began with a requiem Mass at 11am on Thursday before the final burial later in the afternoon. The final farewell took place after 5pm.
The ceremony brought together Noboa, government secretaries, diplomatic authorities and close associates of the couple.
Among the senior officials who attended were Interior Minister John Reimberg and Foreign Minister Roberto Kury. The officials paid tribute to Sensi-Contugi’s contribution to Ecuador’s national security and public service.
The couple’s remains arrived in Guayaquil on Wednesday, September 2, after Kenyan authorities completed the necessary procedures following the crash.
Their repatriation brought to a close a difficult process that began after the August 19 accident in northern Kenya.
Sensi-Contugi and Hollihan died on August 19 when a tourist helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya.
The aircraft, an Airbus/Eurocopter EC130 B4 operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying seven people. Everyone on board died in the accident.
The victims included Sensi-Contugi, Hollihan and five American nationals. The helicopter had been travelling toward the Loisaba Conservancy, a prominent safari destination in northern Kenya.
The cause of the crash has not been publicly established.
Sensi-Contugi served as director of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Centre (CNI) and previously held a senior government role as Minister of Government.
His death was met with tributes across Ecuador, particularly from government officials who worked with him during Noboa’s administration.
Ecuador’s National Assembly also held a moment of silence following the deaths.
