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Disappearance of Tehuel de la Torre

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Tehuel de la Torre (Spanish: [teˈwel de la ˈtore]; born 26 March 1999) is an Argentine trans man who disappeared in the afternoon of 11 March 2021 when he left his home in San Vicente, Buenos Aires, heading for Alejandro Korn to meet Luis Alberto Ramos (37), who had offered him a job as a waiter at a birthday party.[2][3] His whereabouts remain unknown.[4]

Disappearance of Tehuel de la Torre
Tehuel's identification photo used by the Ministry of National Security (Ministerio de Seguridad de la Nación)
Born(1999-03-26)26 March 1999
Disappeared11 March 2021 (aged 21)
San Vicente, Buenos Aires, Argentina
StatusMissing for 3 years, 7 months and 21 days
Height1.56 m (5 ft 1 in)[1]

Disappearance

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De la Torre was born on 26 March 1999.[5] At the time of his disappearance, he lived in San Vicente, Buenos Aires, with his mother, his partner and her son, and his brother. De la Torre had started his gender transitioning a few months before his disappearance.[6]

On 11 March 2021, De la Torre left his home heading for Alejandro Korn to meet Luis Alberto Ramos, a 37-year-old man whom he had met at several Workers' Socialist Movement rallies. Ramos had offered him a job as a waiter at a birthday party. On 13 March, his family reported his disappearance to the police. A destroyed phone and jacket belonging to De la Torre were found in a raid to Ramos' house on 16 March.[7]

Report

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On Saturday March 13, his girlfriend Luciana first went to the 1st police station of San Vicente to file a missing person's report. She was initially rejected, but after returning with an older neighbor, she was able to obtain a report. She stated that they originally did not want to take her report because she was 17.

Investigation

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The investigation is assigned to Karina Guyot, prosecutor of the Decentralized Fiscal Unit of San Vicente.[8]

2021

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A destroyed phone and clothes belonging to Tehuel were found in the first raids of the Ramos's house on March 16.[9]

On March 18, after learning of Tehuel's disappearance, the Department of Gender and Diversity Policies of the Municipality of San Vicente intervened and contacted the family.

On March 23, Luis Alberto Ramos was arrested in Dock Sud; he had shaved his hair and deleted the content of his mobile phone. He refused to testify.

Oscar Alfredo Montes (46), a friend of Ramos, was arrested on 27 March. A picture of the three taken in Montes' house the day of the disappearance was found on 30 March. It was saved in Tehuel's Gmail account at 8:42 p.m. on the day of his disappearance.

On April 5, Minister Estela Díaz of the Ministry of Women, Gender Policies and Sexual Diversity of the Province of Buenos Aires, met with Tehuel's family and the ministerial team, giving her commitment to closely follow the investigation.

On April 21, the Ministry of Security, through the Provincial Directorate of Registry of Missing Persons, offers a reward of between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 pesos to those who can provide data to find Tehuel's whereabouts.

On May 26, after different testimonies within the framework of the investigation, a search was carried out with tactical divers and specialized personnel in Alejandro Korn's Mirin lagoon, close to the Ramos and Montes homes.

On June 3, searches were carried out at an ecopoint and on a CEAMSE property near the Ramos and Montes homes, giving negative results.

On June 10, a raid was carried out at the house of a neighbor of Ramos in the La Nueva Esperanza neighborhood. That same day, a woman reported having seen a person similar to Tehuel in Caleta Olivia, so the prosecutor's office sent an appeal for a sticker with his face to be made in the city.

On June 11, two searches are carried out; one on the CEAMSE property in the city of José León Suárez, and another in the home of "Agüita" (friend of the detainees), in Alejandro Korn.

On June 15, there are raids and searches in a butcher in the neighborhood La Esperanza.

On July 22, the minister of the Ministry of National Security, Sabina Frederic, met with Andrés and Ailén de la Torre, father and sister of Tehuel, in order to evaluate progress in the case and provide search tools together with the Argentine Federal Police and the Federal Search System for Missing and Lost Persons (SIFEBU).[10]

On August 13, through resolution number 1224/21, the Ministry of Security of the Province of Buenos Aires doubled the reward (from 2 million to 4 million pesos) for those who could provide valid information that contributes to the whereabouts of Tehuel

On 10 September a bloodstain belonging to De la Torre was found on a wall in Ramos' house.[11]

On 9 November, Ramos and Montes were charged with aggravated homicide due to hatred of gender identity – a change from the original classification – and the prosecution took the case to trial.[12][13]

In March 2022, a year after his disappearance, the Ministry of Security increased the reward to 5 million pesos (around US$36,000 in August 2022) for information about his whereabouts.[14]

At the end of 2021, Alberto Ramos's house was demolished.[15]

2022

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On March 11, 2022, one year after the disappearance, the Ministry of Security increased the reward to 5 million pesos for information about Tehuel's whereabouts.[16]

Court Case

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The charges brought forth by the family are divided into two parts: On the one hand, there are Norma, his mother, and Verónica Alarcón, his older sister, represented by lawyer Alejandro Valle, focusing on prosecuting the suspects. Tehuel's father, Andrés de la Torre, is represented by lawyers Marcela Mancini and Vanesa Vargas, who are part of the Collective of Translesbofeminist Lawyers, who question that the prosecutor's office focuses the investigation on the search for a body.[17][6]

2021

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On July 17, Montes gave a false statement confirmed by the Prosecutor's Office in which he provided false and incorrect data.

On November 9, Ramos and Montes appear for investigation and give a statement, after which the prosecutor's office decides to charge them with homicide aggravated by hatred of gender identity, a change from the original qualification.[18][19]

2022

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On March 12, 2022, Martín Rizzo, Judge of Guarantees of Cañuelas, brought to trial the case of homicide aggravated by hatred of sexual orientation and gender identity against Tehuel De la Torre. Luis Alberto Ramos and Oscar Alfredo Montes were tried for the homicide of Tehuel (article 80 of the Penal Code) with the aggravating circumstance of hatred of gender identity, thus judging them as a hate crime (section 4). The court accepts the splitting of the case, with the aim of continuing the search for Tehuel.

Effects

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The case of the disappearance of Tehuel de la Torre has had social repercussions at the national level in Argentina, which has become a cause of struggle for the LGBT movement, particularly for the population of trans men. The group Autoconvocadxs por Tehuel has also been created, which concentrates the dissemination of the cause and the call for various activities.[20]

The case has caught the attention of adherents to LGBT organizations and public figures like Quimey Ramos and Florencia de la V and human rights organizations like the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights,[21] the Center for Legal and Social Studies,[22] CORREPI,[23] as well as various political parties such as the Worker's Left Front,[24] and syndicates such as FEDUBA [25] and the State Worker's Association.[26]

Treatment on Social Media

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The case of Tehuel's disappearance was taken up by the news channels due to activism. It was sometimes approached in a discriminatory manner and associating it with criminalization, pathologization and with a perspective of distrust on the victim's life.[27]

Demonstrations

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2021

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On March 26, 2021, coinciding with Tehuel's 22nd birthday, the first vigil was held in San Vicente.

On April 11, 2021, a tweet thread was made for Tehuel. One month after his disappearance, the organizations that support the cause carried out a dissemination activity on the social network Twitter. The next day, a national call was made through LGBT organizations to gather in all the squares and public spaces of the country to demand their search and appearance alive.

On May 11, the second vigil took place by family members, neighbors and self-organized people.

On June 11 and August 11, after three and five months without Tehuel, vigils are organized in different squares of the country.

2022

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On March 11, 2022 at 7 p.m., commemorating one year since his disappearance, a march was held calling for his appearance and justice in Alejandro Korn, which had the support of the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity.

In addition, a mural in memory of Tehuel was placed at the San Vicente Station Cultural Center.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Caso Tehuel: el Ministerio de Mujeres reclamó mejor accionar judicial" [Tehuel case: the Ministry of Women demanded better judicial action]. Télam (in Spanish). 24 July 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ Curia, Dolores (9 April 2021). "La desaparición de Tehuel: transfobia televisada" [The disappearance of Tehuel: televised transphobia]. Página 12 (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. ^ Alcoba, Natalie (16 April 2021). "A Missing Man is Forcing Argentina to Confront Transphobia". Vice. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  4. ^ "A 500 días de la desaparición de Tehuel de la Torre, habrá una marcha en el Congreso" [500 days after the disappearance of Tehuel de la Torre, there will be a march in Congress]. TN (in Spanish). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Resolución 137/2022" [Resolution 137/2022]. Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina (in Spanish). 10 March 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b Erbetta, Emilia (13 October 2021). "Caso Tehuel: a siete meses de su desaparición, la causa no avanza y vuelve a exponer las falencias de la justicia" [Tehuel case: seven months after his disappearance, the case does not advance and once again exposes the shortcomings of justice]. Rolling Stone Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  7. ^ Arias, Luciana (27 June 2021). "La historia de Tehuel y su novia: 'Mi nene lo tomó como un papá, su sueño es que tengamos otro hijo y jugar en Boca'" [The story of Tehuel and his girlfriend: 'My son took it like a father, his dream is that we have another son and play in Boca']. A24 (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Caso Tehuel: a siete meses de su desaparición, la causa no avanza y vuelve a exponer las falencias de la justicia". LA NACION (in Spanish). 15 October 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ "La historia de Tehuel y su novia: "Mi nene lo tomó como un papá, su sueño es que tengamos otro hijo y jugar en Boca"". A24 (in Spanish). 27 June 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Frederic se reunió con el padre y la hermana de Tehuel de la Torre" [Frederic met with the father and sister of Tehuel de la Torre]. Argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). 22 July 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Hallaron ADN de Tehuel en la casa de uno de los detenidos" [Tehuel's DNA was found in one of the detainees' house]. Télam (in Spanish). 10 September 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  12. ^ Mizerniuk, Soledad; Rodríguez, Victoria (11 February 2022). "¿Dónde está Tehuel? A 11 meses de su desaparición, las organizaciones reclaman justicia" [Where is Tehuel? 11 months after his disappearance, organisations demand justice]. Agencia Presentes (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Un año sin Tehuel de la Torre: aunque los acusados vayan a juicio no se frenaría la búsqueda" [A year without Tehuel de la Torre: even if the accused go to trial, the search would not stop]. Infobae (in Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Nueva recompensa: $5 millones para quien diga dónde está Tehuel de la Torre" [New reward: $5 million to whoever tells where Tehuel de la Torre is]. Infobae (in Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Lo que dice el silencio: La desaparición de Tehuel de la Torre contada por Selva Almada - lavaca" [What silence says: The Dissapearance of Tehuel de la Torre counted for Selva Almada.] (in Spanish). 23 December 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Nueva recompensa: $5 millones para quien diga dónde está Tehuel de la Torre". infobae (in European Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Desaparecide: ¿dónde está Tehuel de la Torre? - lavaca" (in Spanish). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  18. ^ "¿Dónde está Tehuel? A 11 meses de su desaparición, las organizaciones reclaman justicia". Agencia Presentes (in Spanish). 11 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Un año sin Tehuel de la Torre: aunque los acusados vayan a juicio no se frenaría la búsqueda". infobae (in European Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Tehuel: Realizan nuevos rastrillajes en busca de pistas sobre el joven desaparecido en marzo de 2021". Agencia Presentes (in Spanish). 8 September 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  21. ^ "La APDH pide la aparición de Tehuel de la Torre". APDH (in Spanish). 12 April 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  22. ^ "¿Quién está buscando a Tehuel?". CELS (in Spanish). 8 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  23. ^ EditorCORREPI (17 May 2021). "Basta de crímenes de odio". CORREPI (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  24. ^ "¿Dónde está Tehuel? 5 meses sin Tehuel: El Frente de Izquierda se movilizó por su aparición con vida". La Izquierda Diario - Red internacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Nos falta Tehuel" (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  26. ^ Corzo, Elisa (3 June 2021). "#3J: Ni una muerta más, ni unx trabajadorx menos". ATE (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  27. ^ Curia, Dolores (7 April 2021). "La desaparición de Tehuel: transfobia televisada | ¿Buscalo como si fuera cis?". PAGINA12 (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  28. ^ "San Vicente: inauguraron un mosaico de Tehuel a un año de su desaparición". www.eldiariosur.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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