Massive Protests in Argentina Demand Justice for Livestreamed Femicides

September 28, 2025 12:58 PM

Massive Protests in Argentina Demand Justice for Livestreamed Femicides

Thousands of people marched in Buenos Aires on Saturday in an anti-femicide protest, demanding justice for the brutal torture and murder of a girl and two young women in a crime that investigators say was livestreamed on social media.

Details of the Brutal Killings

Victims: The deceased are 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez, and cousins Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, both 20.
The Crime: The three were lured into a van on September 19 under the guise of attending a party. They were allegedly taken as part of a drug gang’s plan to “punish” them for violating gang code and to serve as a warning.
Livestreamed Warning: Police believe the drug-trafficking gang responsible for the crime broadcast the torture and murder live on social media. Authorities discovered a video during questioning of a detainee, in which a gang leader is heard saying: “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.”
Bodies Found: The victims’ bodies were found buried at a property in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, five days after they went missing. Brenda del Castillo’s father stated he was unable to identify his daughter’s body due to the abuse inflicted.

Investigation and Public Reaction

Arrests and Fugitive: As of Friday, five suspects (three men and two women) have been arrested. However, the alleged Peruvian mastermind and gang leader, a 20-year-old man, remains at large, with authorities releasing his photograph.
The Protest: Relatives joined the massive march to Parliament under the banner: “There are no good or bad victims, only femicide.” The grandfather of the two cousins called the killers “bloodthirsty,” saying, “You wouldn’t do what they did to them to an animal.”
Femicide Crisis: The horrific case has shocked Argentina, where a woman is killed by a man every 36 hours, according to a local monitoring group.