Argentines are outraged over the gruesome triple murder of three young women on the outskirts of the capital of Buenos Aires. Police confirmed on Wednesday the discovery of the mutilated bodies in a home in the southern district of Florencio Varela.
The female victims were identified as Morena Verdi, 20, Brenda Loreley Del Castillo, also 20, and a minor, Lara Morena Gutiérrez, 15, who were found bound with their hands and feet tied with evidence of apparent torture.
The victims, according to one female detained by police, “messed up” by committing an offense against a local narco-gang, allegedly stealing kilos of cocaine from the group, who later lured the female trio into a van by inviting them to a party, says the female witness.
The victims were allegedly taken to a home in Florencia Varela, where a group reportedly raped, tortured, and killed the victims.
Forensic analysis suggests one of the victims had her fingers cut off from one of her hands. Another victim had signs of cranial bludgeoning, while another apparently suffocated with a bag over her head. Investigations also revealed that one of the victims had her stomach cut open by the killers.
According to investigators, the three victims had gone missing for five days until they were discovered, at which point the bodies were taken to a morgue in La Matanza, where they were later identified by relatives.
Investigators have reason to believe that the murders are linked to a Peruvian narco-gang that is active in the area of Villa 1-11-14 in Buenos Aires City.
Although the crimes are still under investigation by authorities, it has been confirmed that the killings were live-streamed on a platform that was made up by a “closed group” of 45 people. Reports also suggest that in the footage, one of the perpetrators can be heard murmuring, “This is what happens when you steal from me”.
The investigation revealed that one of the female victims was buried beneath the patio of the kill house, while another was found in a burned-out vehicle – one similar to the one the victims were last seen in.
Per reports from the Buenos Aires Times, the raid that was conducted on the home in search of the three young women interrupted a pair of suspects who were in the middle of cleaning the scene with bleach.
The political turmoil from the murders sparked a back-and-forth among members of the government, arguing over the urgency of challenging the criminal element in the city and in reducing the presence of narco-gangs currently terrorizing the residents of Buenos Aires and other areas of the country.
A total of 12 people who are believed to be associated with the crimes are currently in police custody.
