 "Thousands march in Argentina over murder of girl and two young women")
Thousands of demonstrators in Buenos Aires clashed with police while protesting the torture and murder of two young women and a teenager—a crime that was allegedly recorded and livestreamed on social media by a drug gang.
Authorities reported that thousands took to the streets on Saturday to protest the killings that shook Argentina, after it was disclosed that the murders were live-streamed on Instagram and viewed by 45 members of a private account.
The bodies of cousins Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, both 20 years old, along with 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez, were discovered buried in the yard of a house in a southern Buenos Aires suburb on Wednesday, five days after they disappeared.
Investigators stated that the victims, believing they were headed to a party, were tricked into entering a van on September 19. This was reportedly part of a scheme to “punish” them for breaking gang rules and to serve as a warning to others.
According to Javier Alonso, the security minister for Buenos Aires province, police found a video of the triple murder after a suspect linked to the disappearance confessed during questioning.
Argentinian media detailed the horrific abuse the victims suffered—including being beaten, suffocated, and having their fingers and nails removed—as the gang leader in the footage announced, “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhile the majority of Saturday’s demonstrators marched peacefully, a smaller group clashed with police, who responded aggressively by using batons and shields to push them away.
The families of the victims marched with thousands of supporters toward the Argentinian parliament, carrying a banner listing their loved ones’ names—Lara, Brenda, Morena—alongside placards displaying their pictures.
“Women must be protected more than ever,” Brenda’s father, Leonel del Castillo, said during the protest, as reported by AFP. He had previously expressed that he was unable to identify his daughter’s body due to the extent of the torture and murder she endured.
Antonio del Castillo, the grandfather of the 20-year-old cousins, was also visibly emotional and described the perpetrators as “bloodthirsty.” “You wouldn’t do what they did to them to an animal,” he said.
As they marched, the protesters beat drums and condemned the “inaction” of President Javier Milei’s administration, slamming what they described as the increasing influence of drug cartels in the country.
Arrests and search
On Friday, National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich announced a fifth arrest in the case, bringing the total number of suspects to three men and two women.
This newest suspect, a woman, was apprehended in the Bolivian border city of Villazon for allegedly providing a getaway vehicle.
Meanwhile, authorities have released a photograph of the alleged 20-year-old Peruvian mastermind, who is still at large.
Separately, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has disputed reports that the murders were livestreamed on its platform, according to an AFP report citing a company spokesperson.