- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 28 Sep 2025 11:11 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Argentina is shaken by the brutal torture and killing of three young women, 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez and 20-year-old cousins Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, whose murders were broadcast live on social media, prompting outrage and huge demonstrations.
The families of the victims have cried out over the massacres, expressing their heartbreak and outrage. Brenda's father, Leonel del Castillo, said to AFP, "Women need to be protected more than ever." He continued that he was not able to fully recognise his daughter because of the brutal manner in which she had been tortured and killed.
Their grandfather, Antonio del Castillo, too was weeping, calling the murderers "bloodthirsty." "You wouldn't do to them what they did to them to an animal," he said. "I hope that the truth comes out. I ask people to rally behind us."
Anti-Femicide Protests Shake Buenos Aires
Thousands of Argentinians are protesting in the streets, calling for justice to be served for the victims. Marchers, holding signs and placards with the victims' names and photographs, demonstrated in front of the Argentinian parliament. The signs had messages like, "It was a narco-femicide!" and "Our lives are not disposable!"
Protesters also criticised President Javier Milei’s administration, accusing it of inaction against growing narco influence in the country. Some demonstrators even burned images of Milei and political allies in anger.
Police suspect that a drug-dealing gang planned the killings, flaunting the crime on Instagram to warn others. The victims were allegedly invited into a van on September 19 with the promise of a party. Police stated that the assault was meant to "punish" them for breaking gang codes.
Five suspects, including three men and two women, have been detained, National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich confirmed, but the Peruvian man, aged 20, identified as the gang leade,r is still on the loose. Police released his photo, which they hope will help the public identify him.
An official said they found the video of the killings after one of the detainees, during interrogation, divulged it. The gang leader can be heard in the video telling victims, "This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me," emphasising the premeditated brutality of the assault.
The bodies of the victims were found buried at a house in a suburb in southern Buenos Aires five days after they went missing. The authorities confirmed that the van scam was a premeditated plan designed to impose gang discipline and send a message of fear to the populace.