Grief, outrage, and a relentless demand for justice filled the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday as thousands marched in protest over the brutal torture and murder of three young women—a crime that authorities say was live-streamed on social media.
Protesters converged on the steps of Argentina’s Parliament, carrying banners with the names and faces of the victims—15-year-old Lara Gutierrez and cousins Brenda del Castillo and Morena Verdi, both 20. The message was unambiguous: “Women’s lives are not disposable.”
Authorities have linked the murders to drug gang violence. Signs and banners read, “It was a narco-feminicide!” and “Our lives are not disposable!” as demonstrators banged drums during the march, organized by a feminist group.
The bodies of Morena Verdi, Brenda del Castillo, and Lara Gutierrez were discovered on Wednesday, buried in the yard of a house in a southern Buenos Aires suburb, five days after they disappeared.
Families speak out
The victims’ families joined the protests, determined to confront the tragedy publicly.
Leonel del Castillo, Brenda’s father, said he could not bring himself to identify his daughter because of the abuse she suffered.
Antonio del Castillo, grandfather of the 20-year-old cousins, broke down in tears, describing the killers as “bloodthirsty.” “You wouldn’t do what they did to them to an animal,” he said.
Meta disputes livestream claims
The case has drawn attention due to reports that the torture and killings were live-streamed on a private Instagram account, with at least 45 viewers watching the crime in real time, AFP reported.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has denied that the livestream occurred on its platform.
“We have not found any evidence of the livestream taking place on Instagram. Our team continues to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this horrific crime,” a spokesperson told AFP.
Chilling details of the crime
The young women went missing on September 19 after reportedly being lured to a gathering under the guise of a party. Five days later, police found their bodies buried in a yard in southern Buenos Aires.
Investigators say the three women were targeted as a violent warning from a local drug gang, allegedly for violating internal “codes.”
In footage described by authorities, a gang leader is heard saying: “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.”
According to Javier Alonso, security minister for Buenos Aires province, police discovered the video after a detainee revealed it during questioning.
Forensic reports and witness accounts indicate that the victims endured extreme violence, including mutilation, before being killed. Argentine media reported that the torturers cut off fingers, pulled out nails, and beat and suffocated the young women.
