Final answer:
Santiago's wealth and status could not protect him from honor killings.
Step-by-step explanation:
One possible reason for Santiago's death as revealed by the narrator is that his wealth and status could not protect him from honor killings. The narrator mentions in the text that Santiago's family did not approve of his relationship with her. In some cultures, honor killings are carried out to protect the honor of the family or community, regardless of the individual's wealth or status.