Victims Found Buried in Garden
Three young women in Argentina were tortured, raped, and murdered by a drug gang, with the horrific crime streamed live on Instagram to dozens of viewers.
Police confirmed the bodies of Brenda del Castillo, Morena Verdi, and Lara Gutiérrez were discovered buried in the garden of a house on the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires.
Lured Into Deadly Trap
Investigators believe the women were tricked into going to the property after being invited to what they thought was a social gathering.
Security Minister Javier Alonso told reporters:
“They were last seen getting into a vehicle voluntarily because they had been invited to an event, not knowing they were falling into a trap set for them by an international drugs trafficking gang which had hatched a plan to kill them.”
Crime Streamed Online
In a chilling detail, authorities confirmed the torture session was broadcast live in a private Instagram group.
Mr Alonso said the stream was watched by around 45 people as the women were brutalised in real time.
Femicide Condemned
The Buenos Aires Ministry of Women and Diversity described the killings as femicide — the most extreme form of gender-based violence.
A statement read:
“In the context of drug-related crime, they are a brutal and ferocious expression of dehumanisation, cruelty, and neglect. We accompany their families and loved ones in their grief.”
CCTV Shows Last Moments
The young women were last seen on CCTV footage on Friday evening, entering a white pickup truck.
Detectives said their mobile phone signals were later traced to the house where their bodies were found buried.
Burned-Out Vehicle Discovered
The same pickup truck was found abandoned and torched in wasteland, just 100 metres from the crime scene.
Investigators believe the destruction of the vehicle was an attempt to cover the gang’s tracks.
Shock Across Argentina
The brutal crime has sparked shock and anger across Argentina, with campaigners demanding tougher protections for women and girls.
Rights groups described the livestreaming of the killings as a new level of cruelty and dehumanisation.
Arrests Made
So far, four suspects have been arrested in connection with the murders.
Authorities believe the Buenos Aires-based drug gang had specifically chosen the house as a base to carry out the attack.
International Drug Links
Police sources say the gang involved has ties to an international trafficking network, raising concerns about organised criminal operations using Argentina as a hub.
The investigation is now focusing on whether the killings were also intended as a warning to rivals.
Social Media Under Scrutiny
The revelation that Instagram was used to livestream the killings has triggered scrutiny of social media platforms.
Sky News has contacted Meta, Instagram’s parent company, for comment on how the broadcast was able to take place.
Community in Mourning
Residents have left flowers and candles near the house where the women were killed, calling for justice and protection from escalating violence.
Many described the victims as “ordinary young women who trusted the wrong people.”
Calls for Action
Activists are urging authorities to strengthen measures against gender-based violence in Argentina, which already has one of the highest femicide rates in Latin America.
They warn that drug gangs increasingly target vulnerable women as part of their operations.
Political Response
Government ministers have promised justice and pledged that those responsible will face the “full weight of the law.”
President Javier Milei is expected to address the killings in an upcoming statement.
Investigation Ongoing
Forensic teams continue to examine the property where the bodies were discovered.
Police have confirmed they are analysing both the livestream and the identities of those who watched it.
Families Await Justice
Relatives of the victims are said to be devastated, with community groups rallying to support them.
Campaigners have vowed to keep pressure on authorities to ensure the case is not forgotten.
