Triple crime of Florencio Varela

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On 19 September 2025, a triple killing of two young women and a teenaged girl took place outside Buenos Aires, Argentina and was livestreamed on social media. The victims were tortured before they were murdered. The discovery of the murders, which were linked to an international drug trafficking gang, provoked protests.

Contents

Background

According to reports, 20-year-old Brenda del Castillo and Morena Verdi, who were cousins [1] , and 15-year-old Lara Gutiérrez disappeared on 19 September 2025 after being promised $300 for participating in a "sex party". [2] [3] [4] They were driven to a house in a suburb of Buenos Aires. [5] [6] [7]

Livestream murder

In the house the three women were tortured and killed; [8] they were beaten, their fingernails were extracted and parts of their bodies amputated, and they were suffocated. [3] [9] Authorities say that many parts of the torture were livestreamed on Instagram and TikTok, to an exclusive audience of 45 people. [2] [4] [7] [10] [11] Meta, the owners of Instagram, has stated that there is no proof the livestream took place on its platform. [2] [3] [4]

Investigation

The three dismembered bodies were discovered on 24 September 2025 in the backyard of a house in Florencio Varela. [6] [9] The bodies were discovered by tracing the women's cellphone signals; [9] [11] the livestream was revealed under questioning of a suspect. [5] Authorities say the murder was meant to send a message of fear, as a gang leader is heard saying, "This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me." [4] [5] Police say one of the women allegedly stole a small package of drugs. [6] [8] As of 29 September the police had arrested six [10] suspects, but reports say the mastermind of the murder, a Peruvian national, is still free. [5] [6] [11]

On 1 October 2025, it was reported that Argentina police, suspect that a man by the name Tony Janzen Valverde Victoriano, also known as "Little J", is the mastermind behind the triple murder. [12] [13] Peruvian police reported they have arrested him along with his right hand man, in two separate operations. [12] [13]

Public reaction

As the case became public, protests began, especially in Buenos Aires, [7] where there were clashes with police. [3] Marchers displayed the victims' names and photos, demanding justice and protection for women. Families, women's groups, and human rights activists denounced drug violence and femicide. [3] [4] [7]

See also

References

  1. "Murders of 2 young women and teen girl livestreamed on social media, sparking protests in Argentina - CBS News". CBS News . 1 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Salomón, Josefina (26 September 2025). "Drug traffickers livestream torture and killing of young Argentinian women and girl". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Regencia, Ted (28 September 2025). "Thousands protest livestreamed murder of 2 women, young girl in Argentina". Al Jazeera . Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Sasipornkarn, Emmy (28 September 2025). "Argentina: Thousands march for women murdered on livestream". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Argentine victims of live-streamed murder laid to rest on eve of protest". France 24. AFP. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Argentina In Shock Over Instagram Murders Of Three Women By Suspected Narcos". Barron's. AFP. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Lau, Stuart (28 September 2025). "Brutal killings of young women leave Argentina in shock and anger". BBC News. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 Ionova, Ana (25 September 2025). "Brutal Killing of 3 Women, Livestreamed on Social Media, Shocks Argentina". New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Asma-Sadeque, Samira (29 September 2025). "Girl, 15, Among 3 Found Slain in 'House of Horrors' After Their Torture Was Broadcast Live on Instagram". People magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 Castro, Manuela (29 September 2025). "The live-streamed murder of two women and a girl has shocked Argentina". CNN. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "Three young women tortured and murdered by drug gang - all captured live on Instagram". Sky News. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Man suspected of ordering murder of three Argentine women arrested". BBC News. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Extradition sought for suspected mastermind of triple murder". Buenos Aires Times. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.