A group of workers carrying out excavation tasks at a construction site located at 3700 Congreso Avenue, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Coghlan, made a disturbing discovery: human remains, apparently ancient, surfaced while the work was underway. Although the incident occurred on May 20, it only came to light in recent hours.
The land is enclosed by a black metal gate and features several mounds of earth resulting from the demolition of an old house. Years ago, musician Gustavo Cerati lived in that residence. However, long before that, the same place housed a nursing home and, previously, the Santa María Church operated there.
The discovery was reported that same May 20 through a call to 911, which triggered the intervention of officers from the City Police belonging to Neighborhood Police Station 12C.
El músico Gustavo Cerati.
Once at the scene, the officers spoke with the architect in charge of the project, who explained that the workers had found the skeletal remains while working on one of the party walls of the property.
"At one point, a piece of earth from the neighboring house came loose, and what appeared to be human skeletal remains became visible," stated the official report issued on May 20, the day the discovery was formally reported.
The construction project on that land is recent. In the past, the property was rented by visual artist Marina Olmi, sister of actor Boy Olmi, who also lived there for several years.
In statements to TN channel, the artist explained that she had acquired the house about 30 years ago with her ex-husband, buying it from the son of a German woman named Olga Schuddekopf. The house had an unusual layout: two housing units, one at the front and another at the back, a large garden, a pool, and spaces adapted for artistic activities.
El músico Gustavo Cerati.
However, the property held a much older history. Before her acquisition, a nursing home had reportedly operated there, and some time earlier, according to Olmi, a religious chapel and even a stable. This last detail became relevant in the context of the investigation, since neighbors of the adjacent property informed the Police that a church called "Santa María" had existed at that location, which could provide clues about the age of the skeletal remains found.
The case
The investigation was left in the hands of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 61, headed by prosecutor Martín López Perrando, who ordered the Scientific Police to proceed with the removal of the remains found.
The operation was carried out on Thursday, May 29, when specialized personnel arrived at the site to conduct the first expert examinations. In addition to the skeletal remains, the workers had found some personal belongings, including watches, although it was not specified whether these objects were directly related to the bones found.
If it is determined that the bones are very old, the case could be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Federal Justice, since it could involve events prior to the current Penal Code, or be linked to historical, religious, or institutional matters.
