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A missing 14-year-old girl has been found murdered in a remote field after vanishing on her way to collect a supposed surprise for her mother.
The grim discovery was made in the Ampliacion Ferreyra area on the southern outskirts of Cordoba, Argentina’s second-largest city, on 30th May after police spent nearly a week searching for Agostina Vega.
The teenager had disappeared on the night of 23rd May after leaving her home in the General Mosconi neighbourhood and telling her grandmother she was going to pick up a surprise gift for her mother.
Investigators said Agostina travelled more than four miles by taxi to the Cofico district, where security cameras captured her meeting Claudio Gabriel Barrelier, 33, who later became the only suspect arrested in the case.
Police said Barrelier, a municipal traffic worker and family acquaintance, paid for the taxi before Agostina was filmed walking with him towards his home in Juan del Campillo Street.
Further CCTV footage reportedly showed the schoolgirl entering the property, but investigators said there was no evidence she ever came back out.
Authorities carried out multiple raids at the house after neighbours reported suspicious activity during the night.
Investigators later focused their search on a large open field in Ampliacion Ferreyra after receiving information placing the suspect there following the teenager’s disappearance.
Human remains were eventually discovered during a seven-hour search operation involving more than 150 officers, horses and specially trained dogs.
Prosecutor Raul Garzon said investigators believed Agostina had been killed within hours of disappearing.
He added that the suspect had repeatedly changed his version of events during questioning.
According to investigators, Barrelier first claimed the girl seen entering his home on CCTV was his own daughter before later admitting it was Agostina.
Police also said the suspect initially told relatives the teenager had left with somebody in a red car, but prosecutors later dismissed that version of events.
Agostina’s mother, Melisa Heredia, said she had trusted Barrelier because he was close to the family.
Her father Gabriel Vega said: “I only want them to tell the truth so we can know what happened to Agostina.”
Authorities confirmed the investigation had now become a homicide case.
Barrelier remained in custody while prosecutors continued investigating whether anyone else may have been involved.
Reports in local media said the suspect had previously faced allegations linked to unlawful detention involving another woman.
The case sparked protests in Cordoba, where relatives, neighbours and supporters blocked roads and burned tyres while demanding justice for the teenager.
Police said forensic tests and further examinations were continuing.
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
Byline Journalist: Marija Stojkoska
Byline Sub editor: Marija Stojkoska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Marija Stojkoska
Byline Picture Editor: Joana Mihajlovska
Byline Copychecker: Joana Mihajlovska
Byline Illustrator: Joana Mihajlovska
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Córdoba,_Argentina
Subject: Crime, Murder, Social media, Society
T4 Editor Story Rating: 6
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 7
T4 Total rating: 6.5
