Argentina protests erupt over killings of 15-year-old girl and two young women

Thousands marched in Buenos Aires on Saturday, demanding justice for Lara Gutierrez, 15, and Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, both 20, whose killings have shocked Argentina. The victims were allegedly tortured and murdered by members of a drug-trafficking gang, and a video of the crime was livestreamed on social media. Police say the gang targeted the trio as a warning to others, and they believe a 20-year-old Peruvian man who authorities identify as the group’s leader remains at large.

Five suspects—three men and two women—had been arrested as of Friday, according to National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich. Investigators said the victims were lured into a van under the pretext of going to a party on Sept. 19. The plan, authorities say, was to punish the girl and the young women for flouting gang codes. The discovery of the video came after one of the detainees provided it during questioning, Buenos Aires province security minister Javier Alonso said. Authorities have released a photograph of the alleged mastermind, the Peruvian man, who remains at large.

The bodies of the three victims were found last Wednesday buried in the yard of a house in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires, five days after they disappeared, authorities said. Relatives and friends attended a demonstration near Parliament under the banner, "There are no good or bad victims, only femicide," to demand accountability.

Brenda’s father, Leonel del Castillo, told reporters that it was impossible to identify his daughter’s body due to the abuse she endured. Antonio del Castillo, Brenda’s grandfather, wiped away tears as he described the killers as "bloodthirsty" and said the acts were unthinkable even for animals. The protests reflected a broader concern over violence against women in Argentina, where femicide remains a persistent crisis.

Experts and activist groups say the case highlights the ongoing challenge of femicide in the country. A monitoring group cited by AFP notes that, on average, one woman is killed by a man every 36 hours in Argentina. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing, with prosecutors pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including the possibility that the crime was intended as a warning to others in the gang’s network.

Authorities stressed that the investigation continues and that additional suspects could be identified as more evidence emerges. The case has drawn national and international attention as Argentina grapples with violence against women and the mechanisms of organized crime that can enable such crimes to unfold and be broadcast to the public.