Authorities in Peru have successfully apprehended a man suspected of masterminding the horrific killings of two 20-year-old women and a 15-year-old girl in Argentina. The victims were reportedly lured to a house near the capital city on September 19th, where they endured a brutal torture and murder that was tragically livestreamed on Instagram.
The shocking violence and subsequent discovery of the victims’ mutilated bodies buried in a garden has sent waves of grief and anger across the region. This has ignited passionate protests, with thousands taking to the streets of Buenos Aires to demand justice and an end to femicide.
Initial investigations indicate that the victims – cousins Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, both 20, and 15-year-old Lara Morena Gutiérrez – were targeted by an international drug cartel. They were reportedly promised payment to attend a party, a ruse that led them into the hands of their killers. Security footage showing the women entering a van with altered license plates proved crucial in tracing their movements to the location of their deaths.
Adding to the horror, the security minister of Buenos Aires province revealed that the murders were broadcast to a private group of 45 individuals. A chilling audio recording during the livestream captured a voice stating, “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me,” suggesting a connection to drug trafficking operations.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery, Argentine police arrested seven suspects, including individuals believed to have assisted in the burial of the victims and the driver of the vehicle that transported them. However, the alleged mastermind, identified as 20-year-old Tony Janzen Valverde Victoriano, also known as “Little J,” managed to evade capture until his recent arrest in Peru.
Valverde Victoriano was apprehended on a highway south of Lima, Peru, while concealed within a fish transport van. In a parallel operation, Peruvian police also detained Matías Ozorio, a 28-year-old Argentine national, whom they identified as Valverde Victoriano’s close associate. Ozorio is expected to be extradited to Argentina soon, while Valverde Victoriano, a Peruvian citizen, remains in custody pending an extradition request from Argentina.
Peruvian authorities intercepted communications between Valverde Victoriano and Ozorio, which were instrumental in tracking their movements. Ozorio reportedly told investigators that he had been coerced into entering Peru by a drug gang to whom he owed money.
Argentina’s security minister commended the Peruvian police for their successful collaboration in apprehending the two key suspects in this tragic case.