Thousands of people have taken part in an anti-femicide protest in Buenos Aires, demanding justice for a girl and two young women who were tortured and murdered in a crime that has shocked Argentina.
The brutal killings of 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez and 20-year-olds Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo were livestreamed on social media, leading to public outrage.
Authorities believe a drug-trafficking gang is responsible for the crime, which was said to have been broadcast as a warning to others. Police have arrested five suspects, including three men and two women, but the group's alleged leader remains at large.
Investigation details reveal that the victims were lured into a van under the pretense of attending a party on September 19. This was apparently part of a plan to 'punish' them for violating gang codes.
The discovery of a video recording a gang leader stating, This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me, has prompted further investigation. The victims' bodies were found buried in a residential yard in Buenos Aires, five days after they went missing.
Following the murders, relatives of the victims rallied in Buenos Aires, marching to Parliament and demanding justice. Brenda's father emphasized the urgent need for women's protection, while other family members expressed the profound emotional toll of the crime.
Statistics reveal that in Argentina, one woman is killed by a man every 36 hours, highlighting the persistent issue of femicide and violence against women in the nation.
