Authorities in Peru have captured a man accused of ordering the brutal murder of two young women and a teenage girl in Argentina earlier this month.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Peruvian national Tony Janzen Valverde Victoriano, also known as “Little J”, was detained on a motorway about 70km south of Lima while hiding in a van transporting fish.
Argentine officials allege that Valverde gave the order to kill cousins Morena Verdi and Brenda del Castillo, both 20, and 15-year-old Lara Morena Gutiérrez, who were lured to a house near Buenos Aires on 19 September with promises of payment to attend a party.
Days later, their mutilated bodies were discovered buried in the garden of the property. Investigators say the victims were tortured and killed on camera, with the livestream shared to a private group of around 45 viewers.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that a male voice was reportedly heard in the broadcast saying: “This is what happens to those who steal drugs from me.”
The case has horrified Argentina, sparking mass protests in Buenos Aires demanding stronger action against femicide.
Recall that seven people were arrested in Argentina shortly after the killings, including the man suspected of digging the victims’ grave and others accused of transporting them. But Valverde, believed to be the ringleader, had fled across the border.
In a coordinated operation, Peruvian police also detained Matías Ozorio, a 28-year-old Argentine national described as Valverde’s right-hand man.
He is expected to be handed over to Argentine authorities, while Valverde remains in custody in Peru pending an extradition request.
Officials say intercepted communications between the two suspects helped track them down.
Argentina’s Security Minister praised Peruvian authorities for their swift action, calling the arrests “a decisive step towards justice for the victims.”
