Thousands gathered in Buenos Aires for an anti-femicide protest demanding justice for three victims of a brutal crime that has shaken Argentina. The protesters are seeking accountability for the murders of 15-year-old Lara Gutierrez and 20-year-olds Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, whose killings were livestreamed on social media. Law enforcement officials suspect a drug-trafficking gang was behind the murders and claim the crime was intended as a warning to others.

As of Friday, authorities have arrested five suspects—three men and two women—but the alleged leader, a 20-year-old Peruvian man, remains at large. Investigators stated the victims were misled into a van, believing they were heading to a party, and that their killings were part of a plan to punish them for violating gang codes. A video, obtained during interrogations, allegedly features the gang leader declaring, “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.”

The bodies were discovered buried in a southern suburb of Buenos Aires, five days after the victims were reported missing. Relatives and friends participated in the march to Parliament, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced protection for women. This incident highlights a broader issue, with statistics indicating that one woman is killed by a man every 36 hours in Argentina, according to a local femicide monitoring group.



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