Triple narco murder in Florencio Varela: the Kirchnerist network behind the 'house of horrors'

The triple homicide in Florencio Varela uncovered a network connecting drug trafficking, unionism, and Kirchnerist politics in the province of Buenos Aires. The mutilated bodies of Morena Verdi, Brenda del Castillo, and Lara Gutiérrez were found buried at the back of a house rented by the mother of Magalí Celeste Guerrero, one of the accused, who broke the pact of silence and revealed harrowing details of the murders.

According to Luis Gasulla on Luis Majul's program and as reported by La Nación, the crime scene house belonged to Silvia Almazán, deputy secretary of Suteba and right-hand woman to Roberto Baradel, the long-standing head of the teachers' union. The house, located between Río Jáchal and Chañar in Villa Vatteone, had been rented days before the homicide to Guerrero's mother, an official in Axel Kicillof's government. There, Magalí Guerrero allegedly cleaned the scene and requested protection from the official, showing a direct link between the crime and the Kirchnerist political-union apparatus.

The prosecutor of La Matanza, Adrián Arribas, confirmed that Guerrero provided information about the structure of the drug network: "She placed Lázaro Víctor Sotacuro above 'Pequeño J.' She gave us an insider's version and came to confirm many things", he stated. The accused's lawyer, Daniel Giaquinta, explained that his client did not know the names of all the members of the organization and was not involved in the internal affairs of the gang, but that she provided key pieces to the investigation. After testifying, Guerrero was transferred in a massive operation to the Melchor Romero prison.

The incident occurred on Friday, September 19, when the victims voluntarily got into a white Tracker, captured by security cameras at the La Tablada roundabout, believing they were going to a party. In reality, they were taken to the Florencio Varela house, tortured and murdered. The bodies were found on Wednesday, September 24. The vehicle turned out to be stolen in Dock Sud and had a fake license plate; a Volkswagen Fox was identified as another vehicle used by the perpetrators.

Among those arrested are Magalí Celeste González Guerrero, Andrés Maximiliano Parra, Iara Daniela Ibarra, and Miguel Ángel Villanueva Silva, all transferred to Melchor Romero. Víctor Sotacuro Lázaro was captured at the border with Bolivia, while Ariel Giménez, accused of digging the grave, was charged with concealment. Florencia Benítez, Sotacuro's niece, was also arrested for having been in the vehicle the night of the crime.

The investigation remains open. Arribas reported that authorities are still seeking to arrest at least three or four more people, and that the analysis of the seized cell phones will be progressive. In total, it is estimated that there are nine people in custody and four more under investigation.

Silvia Almazán, owner of the house and union leader close to Baradel, whose career includes positions within the union and at the Institute for Economic and Social Development Stella Maldonado, linked to the CTA, has already testified, which demonstrates the penetration of Kirchnerism and unionism in a case of extreme violence and drug trafficking.