Buenos Aires, Argentina – Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Argentine capital Saturday, calling for accountability in the gruesome murders of three young women, an incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation. The victims, identified as 20-year-old Morena Verdi, 20-year-old Brenda del Castillo, and 15-year-old Lara Gutiérrez, were reported missing last week and were later found buried in a suburban yard.
Relatives of the victims spearheaded the march, carrying a large banner featuring the women’s names and images. They were joined by supporters, many of whom held placards with messages such as “It was a narco-feminicide!” and “Our lives are not disposable!” The event had been organized by a local feminist group and included chanting and drumming to amplify their demands for justice.
The tragic case has drawn links to organized crime, with authorities revealing that the murders were allegedly live-streamed on social media. Details emerged that, prior to their deaths, the women were reportedly lured under false pretenses to a party, believed to be an attempt by drug gangs to exert control over their territory.
“We must safeguard women now more than ever,” declared Leonel del Castillo, Brenda’s father, as he mourned his daughter’s brutal death. He revealed the horrific extent of the injuries that made identification of her body a painful ordeal.
Emotions ran high among the crowd, with family members expressing their devastation. Antonio del Castillo, the grandfather of the victims, characterized the perpetrators as “bloodthirsty,” lamenting the inhumanity of the crimes. “You wouldn’t do this to an animal,” he stated, appealing to the public for support in uncovering the truth.
National authorities have apprehended five suspects so far, three men and two women, with the latest arrested in Bolivia. The primary suspect, believed to be the mastermind behind the crime, remains at large. Reports indicate the suspects acted in retaliation for what they perceived as a breach of gang rules.
According to Javier Alonso, Buenos Aires’s Security Minister, investigators uncovered a video during the interrogations, where a gang leader was heard threatening consequences for those who wronged him. This corroborated claims that the women were victims of heinous tortures, including beatings and other brutal acts, igniting outrage among the public.
Comments from Meta, the parent company of Instagram, denied any involvement of its platform in the alleged livestream of the crime, stating that their investigation had found no evidence of such an event taking place.
The unfolding tragedy has drawn attention not only to the violence women face in Argentina but also to the stigma surrounding their lives. Federico Celebon, a cousin of the victims, indicated that they occasionally engaged in sex work to survive, a detail unknown to many of their family members. He lamented the circumstances that led to their tragic fate, suggesting they were simply in the “wrong place at the wrong time.”
Criticism has also been leveled at media portrayals of the victims, with activists emphasizing that the focus tends to blame the women rather than examine the actions of their perpetrators. Yamila Alegre, a participant in the march, voiced her frustration about the lack of accountability for the individuals responsible for these crimes.
As families demand justice, there remains a pressing call for broader societal change to protect women in a country grappling with violence and inequality. Del Valle Galván, Lara’s aunt, firmly rejected claims of any involvement in illicit activities, asserting her niece’s innocence and calling for transparency in the investigation. “We want the truth, and we are not afraid to fight for it,” she said, emphasizing the necessity for justice not to be obscured in this tragic case.