An alleged leader in the drug trade, accused of orchestrating the brutal torture and killing of three women during a live online broadcast, has been identified by authorities following a manhunt.
Tony Janzen Valverde Victoriano, also known as “Little J,” was apprehended in Peru after fleeing Argentina, where he is believed to have given the orders for the murders of Lara Gutierrez, 15, and her cousins Morena Verdi, 20, and Brenda Del Castillo.
The tragic events were streamed to a private social media group of 45 individuals before the victims were murdered by the traffickers and hidden in plastic bags.
The three women vanished after being enticed to a residence on the outskirts of Buenos Aires under false pretenses of payment for attending a supposed “sex party.”
Disturbing footage captured the women being deceived into entering a van, revealing their final movements before facing torment and death.
Their dismembered bodies were found buried in the backyard of a property approximately 16 miles away from the Argentinian capital, traced through tracking their phones.
Authorities suspect the women were killed as retribution for one of them allegedly stealing a package of drugs from a member of the criminal organization led by the accused mastermind.
Details emerged that Lara had her left hand’s five fingers amputated before being murdered, while Brenda suffered a fractured skull and a cut abdomen postmortem. Morena was apparently asphyxiated with a plastic bag over her head.
Law enforcement located the victims in a dilapidated location in Florencio Varela, referring to it as a “house of horrors,” where it is believed that around 45 individuals watched the gruesome events unfold on an online platform.
During the live stream, a voice was heard declaring consequences for drug theft, as revealed by Javier Alonso, Buenos Aires’ security minister.
Following the arrests, Argentina’s Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, commended the efforts of Peru’s National Police in capturing the suspects and emphasized the importance of collaboration in bringing criminals to justice.
The alleged mastermind, Valverde, was found concealed in a vehicle in Peru, while his associate, Matias Agustin Ozorio, was apprehended in Lima just before Valverde’s capture.
Authorities are coordinating Valverde’s extradition to face justice in Argentina, linking him to international drug trafficking networks and holding him accountable for the brutal triple murder.
If impacted by this tragic event and in need of support, contact Rape Crisis for assistance and guidance through difficult times.