Authorities have apprehended a 20-year-old man from Argentina’s most wanted list, who is accused of committing heinous crimes including torture, rape, and murder of three women during a live stream on Instagram.
Tony Janzen Valverde Victoriano, also known as ‘Little J,’ allegedly subjected the victims to extreme torture after they mistakenly entered a vehicle associated with a violent drug cartel. The victims, Lara Gutierrez (15), Brenda Del Castillo (20), and Morena Verdi (21), tragically lost their lives following the brutal acts of rape and torture carried out by the Peruvian suspect. The entire incident was broadcasted online. Victoriano managed to escape Argentina and crossed the border into Peru before being captured by the authorities.
He was apprehended in a joint operation involving the Provincial Police and the Peru National Police as he attempted to hide inside a truck on the Panamericana Sur highway. Video footage of his arrest shows him being escorted out of the truck where he had concealed himself.
Reacting to the arrest on social media, Patricia Bullrich, Argentina’s Minister of National Security, praised the Peru National Police for their diligent work in capturing the fugitive linked to the triple murders.
She commended the anti-drug officers for capturing ‘Little J’ in Pucusana, emphasizing that effective coordination and decisive action leave no room for criminals to evade justice.
The alias ‘Little J’ emerged in the investigation following the tragic deaths of the three women in Buenos Aires. Victoriano, an internationally sought-after criminal, was believed to be the mastermind behind the crime, which was linked to drug-related activities.
Authorities suspect that the victims were lured to a residence in Buenos Aires under the pretense of attending a party for a payment of around $300. Javier Alonso, the security minister of Buenos Aires, revealed that the victims willingly entered a vehicle, unaware that they were falling into a trap set by an international drug trafficking group.
The victims were taken to a property in Florencio Varela known as the “House of Horrors,” where the alleged assaults and murders occurred on September 19. The brutal acts were live-streamed on a private Instagram group, reportedly viewed by around 45 individuals.
The bodies of the three women were discovered on September 24, buried in the backyard of the property. The victims suffered gruesome injuries, with Lara found with amputated fingers, Brenda with a skull fracture and an open stomach wound, and Morena believed to have died of asphyxiation with a plastic bag over her head.
Upon raiding the property, law enforcement found two women cleaning the scene with bleach.
A spokesperson for Peru’s National Police stated that in a swift and coordinated operation, ‘Little J’ and another fugitive from Argentina were apprehended. Both individuals were wanted for their alleged involvement in the triple murder case in Buenos Aires, with Interpol issuing red notices for their arrest.
“The case involves the violent deaths of three young women. Tony Valverde, a Peruvian national, is suspected of having ties to international drug trafficking networks and is identified as the alleged mastermind behind the crimes,” the spokesperson added. “Several other suspects have already been detained in connection with the triple murders in Argentina.”
