Argentina Arrests Seventh Suspect in Livestreamed Triple Femicide Case, Outrage Mounts
Argentina Arrests Seventh Suspect in Livestreamed Triple Femicide Case, Outrage Mounts
Argentine authorities have announced the arrest of a seventh suspect in connection with the brutal torture and killing of three young women, a case that has ignited nationwide outrage and sparked widespread protests. The latest individual, a 30-year-old woman, was apprehended on Monday as she exited a local TV station after giving an interview.
The woman is reportedly the niece of a man previously arrested in Bolivia, who is accused of providing logistical support to the perpetrators. Security camera footage allegedly places her with her uncle in a car escorting the victims to the house where they were executed. In her interview, she vehemently denied any involvement in the triple homicide.
The bodies of Morena Verdi (20), Brenda del Castillo (20), and 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez were discovered on Wednesday, September 24, buried in the yard of a house in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires. The young women had been missing for five days after reportedly being lured into a van under the false pretense of attending a party. Investigators believe their horrific torture and murder, allegedly livestreamed on Instagram to 45 members of a private account, was orchestrated by drug gangs as a “punishment” for breaking gang rules and a “warning” to others.
This arrest brings the total number of individuals linked to the killings to seven. Police have also issued arrest warrants for a 20-year-old Peruvian drug trafficker believed to be the mastermind behind the atrocities, along with his alleged lieutenant.
The gruesome details of the case have triggered massive public outcry. Thousands marched on Parliament in Buenos Aires on Saturday, September 27, demanding justice for the victims. Leonel del Castillo, father of one of the victims, emphasized the urgent need for greater protection for women. Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof condemned the killings as a “narco-femicide” on Monday.
The incident occurs amidst a concerning backdrop of rising femicide rates in Argentina and recent government decisions, including President Javier Milei’s move to remove the crime of femicide from the penal code and dissolve the agency addressing gender equality.
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