Thousands of people have participated in anti-femicide protests in Buenos Aires, demanding justice for 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez and 20-year-olds Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, who were brutally tortured and murdered, with the crime broadcasted live on social media.
Authorities suspect a drug-trafficking gang's involvement, with reports indicating that the crime was intended as a warning to others. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich announced that five suspects have been arrested, three men and two women, while the group's leader remains at large.
According to investigators, the three victims were lured under the pretext of attending a party. The violent nature of the crime serves not only as a reflection of the gang's ruthless code but deepens the societal fears surrounding the safety and rights of women in Argentina.
Authorities accessed a video of the incident, where the gang leader can be heard warning, 'This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.' The police found the bodies buried in the yard of a house five days after they went missing, drawing further outrage from the public.
During a recent march to Parliament, victims' family members expressed their heartbreak and rage, with Brenda's father stating, 'Women must be protected more than ever.' The horrifying statistic is that in Argentina, a woman is killed by a man every 36 hours, underscoring the necessity for more robust measures against gender-based violence.
