On a chilly Friday night in Buenos Aires, three young women—15-year-old Lara Gutierrez, 20-year-old Brenda del Castillo, and 21-year-old Morena Verdi—disappeared after accepting what seemed like an innocuous invitation. Promised an evening event and a modest payment, they voluntarily entered a vehicle, unaware they were stepping into a meticulously orchestrated trap. By the time their bodies were discovered five days later, Argentina would be left reeling from one of its most shocking and brutal crimes in recent memory—a case that has exposed the chilling reach of transnational narco violence and the disturbing intersection of crime and social media.
The victims’ ordeal began in the La Tablada neighborhood, about 20 kilometers south of Buenos Aires. According to The Economic Times, the three women were deceived by a drug trafficking gang that accused them of stealing cocaine. Investigators would later reveal that the women were lured under false pretenses—offered about £220 (roughly $300 U.S.) each to attend what was described as a sex party. Instead, they were driven to a house in the suburb of Florencio Varela, a location that would soon be dubbed the “horror house.”
What transpired inside that house was nothing short of nightmarish. Forensic reports confirmed by Express and TOOFAB detailed the extreme violence inflicted on each victim. Lara Gutierrez, the youngest, suffered the amputation of all five fingers on her left hand before being killed. Brenda del Castillo endured a skull fracture and was found with her stomach cut open. Morena Verdi was suffocated with a plastic bag, which was still tightly pulled over her head when authorities found her. The brutality was not only physical—these acts were broadcast live, in real time, to a closed group of about 45 people on Instagram and TikTok, as confirmed by Buenos Aires security minister Javier Alonso.
“It was for a closed group of around 45 people. That’s the information we have obtained so far from the investigation. It is relevant to the motive for the murders, which is that the leader of the gang is saying: ‘This is what happens to you if you steal drugs from me,’” Alonso stated in a press conference, as reported by Express and The Economic Times. The livestream was later discovered by police after a suspect revealed its existence under interrogation, according to AFP.
The gang’s leader, identified as a Peruvian national in his early twenties and nicknamed “Little J” or “Julito,” is believed to have orchestrated the killings as a warning to others in the criminal network. Authorities suspect that the murders were ordered in retaliation for the alleged theft of four kilos of cocaine—a detail still under investigation but widely reported by local media and referenced by multiple sources including LBC and TOOFAB. After the killings, the leader reportedly fled Argentina, prompting international agencies to be put on alert for his capture.
The victims’ bodies were found buried in the garden of the Florencio Varela property, five days after they went missing. Police believe the murders occurred between 11 p.m. and midnight on the night of their disappearance. The vehicle used to transport the women was later found burnt out about 100 meters from the house, a clear attempt by the perpetrators to destroy evidence, as noted by both Express and TOOFAB.
Authorities moved quickly in the aftermath, arresting four individuals initially—three Argentinians aged 18, 19, and 28, and a 27-year-old Peruvian. Two of the suspects were women found cleaning the crime scene during a police raid. As the investigation progressed, at least eight more suspects were detained, bringing the total number of those held to twelve, according to reports from AFP and The Economic Times.
The case has not only horrified the nation but also sparked widespread outrage and soul-searching. Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof addressed the murders on social media, declaring, “Drug trafficking knows no borders or jurisdictions, and it also employs all forms of sexist violence.” Political and social organizations quickly mobilized, calling for a march in central Buenos Aires under the slogan, “There are no good or bad victims; only femicides. No life is disposable.” Demonstrations erupted in the Flores and La Tablada neighborhoods, with dozens gathering to demand justice and action against both narco violence and gender-based killings.
Family members of the victims have pleaded for compassion and understanding amid a torrent of public scrutiny. Josefina del Castillo, aunt to Brenda and Morena, delivered a poignant message to the public: “They are three young girls, three families that are today suffering and desperate. Please contact the authorities if you have any information.” She later added, “Thank you to all those who accompanied without judgement and without too many questions. Nobody deserved the ending they had. All lives matter.”
The investigation continues at a rapid pace. Security minister Alonso emphasized the importance of apprehending not just the material perpetrators but also the intellectual authors of the crime. “Our investigation to apprehend the intellectual and material authors is very advanced,” he assured the media, as quoted by Express and The Economic Times. Authorities are working closely with international law enforcement in hopes of tracking down the fugitive gang leader, whose chilling use of social media as a tool of intimidation has set a disturbing precedent.
This case has drawn attention to the broader dangers posed by organized crime in Argentina and the region. The use of livestreaming to broadcast such acts of violence is a relatively new phenomenon, one that poses unique challenges for law enforcement and raises urgent questions about the responsibilities of social media platforms. As AFP and The Economic Times noted, the killings were not just a private act of retribution but a public spectacle meant to reinforce the gang’s control and send a message of fear throughout their network.
As Argentina mourns the loss of Lara Gutierrez, Brenda del Castillo, and Morena Verdi, the nation is left grappling with the implications of this crime. The intersection of gender-based violence, organized crime, and digital technology has created a new and deeply unsettling reality. For the families of the victims, the pain is immeasurable. For the country, the challenge now is to ensure that justice is served—and that no such horror is ever allowed to unfold again.
