Massacre in Villa Crespo: A family member spoke for the first time and pointed to mental health

On May 21, a shocking discovery shook Villa Crespo. On the sixth floor of a building at 295 Aguirre Street, four members of a family were found dead: Laura Leguizamón, her husband Bernardo Adrián Seltzer, and their two children, Ian and Ivo.

The scene was discovered by Lucy, the housekeeper, when she entered the apartment as she did every noon. As soon as she saw the youngest child lying on the floor, gravely injured, she knew that something inconceivable had happened.

Initially, suspicion fell on the father. However, as the investigation progressed, the hypothesis changed course. Forensic analysis and evidence collected at the scene—such as a letter allegedly written by Laura and traces of psychiatric medication—shifted suspicion toward the mother, who allegedly killed her family before taking her own life.

"They were killed by her illness," her sister said from France

Carina Leguizamón, Laura's sister, spoke from France, where she has lived for almost two decades. In an interview with Clarín, she stated:"They were killed by her illness." The phrase summed up the pain and incomprehension she is still experiencing.

Carina was in daily contact with her sister. She stated that Laura always appeared to be functional, even lucid: "She sounded fine. She said she was fine." However, in April 2024, according to her account, depressive symptoms began to reappear.

Back in 2023, Laura had gone through a mental health crisis that led to psychiatric treatment. According to her family, she had "fully recovered" and seemed to have regained emotional stability.

A desperate call and total confusion

The first warning came with a phone call. Lucy, the housekeeper, contacted Carina's parents and, visibly shaken, could only say: "Please, can you come? Something happened with Ian," before hanging up.

From Lanús, Laura's parents immediately traveled to the building in Villa Crespo. On the way, they called Nora, another sister, who lived closer to the location. When they arrived, they found the block cordoned off, police cars, ambulances, and media outlets, but no one provided them with concrete information.

Meanwhile, in France, Carina was having dinner with her 16-year-old son. Her sister called her to tell her to turn on the television. The image that appeared on the screen was devastating: photos of Laura, Adrián, and the children were already on every newscast. The initial version presented them as victims of a femicide followed by suicide perpetrated by the father.

The official hypothesis changed and the mourning became even more complex

Hours later, the information changed completely. Investigators found psychotropic drugs in the home and evidence that altered the crime's timeline. A letter written by someone "out of their mind," according to experts, provided a new clue.

The theory that gained the most traction was that of a psychotic episode by Laura, in which she allegedly attacked her family before taking her own life. The courts have not yet confirmed the authorship of the letter, but both the scene and the evidence found tipped the balance toward that conclusion.

"It was impossible to imagine this ending"

Carina, in conversation with Clarín, described Laura as a loving mother, always devoted to her children, smiling, and committed to her family role. She still can't reconcile the image of that woman with what was later reported.

In the days prior, they had spoken normally. On the Monday and Tuesday before the incident, Laura had appeared lucid and "aware that she had negative thoughts," although she insisted that she could control them.

A family destroyed by illness

The Villa Crespo tragedy left many questions unanswered, but one point seems undeniable: it was Laura's mental illness that triggered the horror, and her sister expressed it with a pain that permeates every word.

While the investigation continues and the country is still trying to understand what happened, the case exposes the silent abyss that mental health can hide. A reality that, at times, doesn't give clear warnings. When it does, it is not always enough.