Femicide in Retiro: accused man refused to testify before judge over Tatiana Fernández's death
The 28-year-old man detained for the femicide of Tatiana Micaela Fernández in Retiro refused to testify before the judge. The autopsy determined death by mechanical asphyxiation.
Man accused of femicide in Retiro refused to testify; autopsy confirmed asphyxiation
According to fiscales.gob.ar, the 28-year-old man detained for the femicide of Tatiana Micaela Fernández, which occurred on Sunday 25 October in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Retiro, refused to provide a statement when questioned by judge Guillermo Rongo, head of the National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 22.
The Forensic Medical Service released the preliminary results of the autopsy: Fernández, aged 27, died from "mechanical asphyxiation by compression". Samples were also taken for toxicological, histopathological and complementary studies.
The investigation was initially led by prosecutor Matías Di Lello, of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 53. Following the suspect's detention, judge Rongo resumed conduct of the case.
A double connection with the justice system
The accused man, identified by the initials R.I.T., was arrested on Sunday evening at the Centro hotel, located on Teniente General Juan Domingo Perón street at number 1500, in the San Nicolás neighbourhood. At the time of his detention, he was also wanted by the Córdoba justice system in connection with the investigation into the homicide of Daniela del Milagro Villalba, aged 29, which occurred on 19 October in the Cofico neighbourhood of that city.
In the Córdoba case, Villalba's body was found in the apartment she was renting. Days earlier, rubbish collectors had found a suitcase containing belongings and garments with bloodstains in a waste container. Analysis of security camera footage made it possible to identify a suspect who had disposed of the suitcase, and tracing of his telephone line placed the device in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. This case is being handled by prosecutor Pablo Camacho, of the Gender and Family Violence Investigation Prosecutor's Office, First Shift in Córdoba.
The beginning of the case in the capital
The Buenos Aires case began on the morning of Sunday 25 October, when a friend of Fernández reported that she had found her dead in the apartment that both had rented through the Airbnb platform, on Libertad street at number 1200. According to the person reporting it, on the previous day a man who identified himself as "Iván" had contacted her via the Gemidos TV website to request a service. As Fernández needed to work, she herself referred the request.
Upon receiving no response to her calls, the woman went to the apartment. As she was unable to get in, she called a locksmith. Upon entering, they found Fernández dead on the bed, covered with a sheet. Her mobile phone was missing and the safe on the premises had been tampered with.
The intersection of the investigations
The Mobile Crime Unit and the Homicide Division of the City Police attended the scene. Security camera footage was also analysed, which recorded the suspect's movements in the surrounding area. At the request of the prosecutor, the judge authorised the interception of four telephone lines: those of the victim and her friend, a shared line that both used to receive requests for services, and that corresponding to the supposed client.
On the basis of these measures, investigators detected that the line of the supposed client was already under interception in the case involving Villalba's homicide in Córdoba. With information provided by the Córdoba prosecutor's office, City Police personnel established that the suspect was staying at the Centro hotel in the San Nicolás neighbourhood, where the search was carried out and the detention was effected.
During the operation, investigators found a mobile phone in the possession of the accused man that would belong to the victim in Buenos Aires.
Source: Google News AR — Buenos Aires