Active case
Death of Facundo Astudillo Castro
Facundo Astudillo Castro (23 August 1997 – c. 15 August 2020) was an Argentine citizen who went missing on 30 April 2020 while hitchhiking from Pedro Luro to Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, to visit his ex-girlfriend during strict COVID-19 lockdown measures. He lacked the circulation permit required at the time. At around 13:00 he called his mother and told her, "Mom, you have no idea where I am, you'll never see me again." That same day, two Mayor Buratovich policemen intercepted him for a lockdown violation and photographed him with his hands against a police vehicle — his last known image. Witnesses later reported seeing him at a checkpoint in Teniente Origone at approximately 15:30, allegedly being told to get into a police pickup truck, though a police officer separately claimed to have intercepted and released him roughly 26 kilometres further along Route 3.
His family characterized the case as a forced disappearance involving the Buenos Aires Provincial Police, a position echoed by human rights activist Estela de Carlotto. Fellow activist Nora Cortiñas called for the resignation of provincial Security Minister Sergio Berni, who dismissed the demand as irresponsible. The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances urged Argentina to conduct a thorough and expedited investigation, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued a precautionary measure. President Alberto Fernández publicly stated the need to determine what happened to Facundo and that any responsible party would face consequences.
A formal missing-persons report was filed on 5 July 2020, and the investigation was escalated over subsequent weeks: the Buenos Aires provincial police were removed from the probe under suspicion, federal forces including the Federal Police, Naval Prefecture, and National Gendarmerie conducted large-scale ground and air searches, and forensic examinations of police vehicles found blood-like stains. Cellphone and logbook records were seized amid concerns about tampering. Family representatives also reported threats and an unauthorized raid connected to the case.
Astudillo Castro's remains were found on 15 August 2020 in an advanced state of decomposition between General Daniel Cerri and Villarino Viejo. An autopsy conducted by the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team at the former ESMA site in Buenos Aires, involving 15 experts over 10 hours, determined the cause of death was drowning and classified the manner of death as unnatural, but could not determine whether it resulted from homicide, suicide, or accident. A family-appointed independent forensic expert, Virginia Creimer, disputed aspects of the official autopsy, and diatom analysis indicated the drowning did not occur where the body was found. Four Buenos Aires provincial policemen have been identified as suspects due to inconsistencies in their statements, including two officers who arrested Astudillo Castro and later deleted messaging app data. As of the most recent reporting reflected here, prosecutors stated there was insufficient evidence to jail the policemen despite family requests for arrests.
Key facts
- Victims
- Facundo Astudillo Castro
- Date
- 2020
- Location
- Between General Daniel Cerri and Villarino Viejo, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
- Case status
- unsolved
Case timeline
1997-08-23
Facundo Astudillo Castro is born.
2020-04-30
Astudillo Castro leaves Pedro Luro for Bahía Blanca hitchhiking without a lockdown circulation permit; he is stopped at a police checkpoint in Mayor Buratovich and photographed with police; he is later reportedly seen at a checkpoint in Teniente Origone. He is not seen again.
2020-07-05
A formal missing persons report is filed, assigned to prosecutor Rodolfo De Lucía.
2020-06-17
Cristina Castro, the victim's mother, is blocked by police trucks while trying to witness a police operation in Mayor Buratovich.
2020-06-25
The Federal System for the Search of Lost and Missing Persons becomes aware of the case and alerts agencies nationwide.
2020-07-08
Federal judge Gabriel Marrón and prosecutor Santiago Ulpiano Martínez take over the case; the Buenos Aires provincial police are removed from the investigation; police logbooks and phones are seized.
2020-07-11
A UN committee demands an expedited and thorough investigation from the Argentine state.
2020-07-12
During a search at a Mayor Buratovich landfill, the family's attorney is threatened by a police deputy commissioner, who is later discharged.
2020-07-15
Large-scale searches conclude; forensic examination of police vehicles finds blood-like stains on multiple vehicles.
2020-07-17
Phone provider data reveals Facebook app pings from the victim's phone on 30 March, prompting a prosecutor substitution request from the family.
2020-07-29
Judge María Gabriela Marrón denies the request to substitute the prosecutor.
2020-07-31
A canine search at Teniente Origone precinct finds an object possibly belonging to the victim.
2020-08-07
A search near Mayor Buratovich finds burnt bone remains of undetermined origin.
2020-08-08
It is revealed that the victim's girlfriend and brother were threatened by provincial police seeking a confession, and that an illegal raid occurred at the family home; the family makes a second prosecutor substitution request.
2020-08-15
Astudillo Castro's remains are found in a decomposed state between General Daniel Cerri and Villarino Viejo; an autopsy determines drowning as cause of death and unnatural death as manner, without determining homicide, suicide, or accident.
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People
Facundo Astudillo Castro
VICTIMArgentine citizen who disappeared on 30 April 2020 after a police stop and was found dead on 15 August 2020; cause of death drowning, manner unnatural, with responsibility undetermined.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- Facundo Astudillo Castro, a 22-year-old Argentine man, disappeared on 30 April 2020 after being stopped by police at a lockdown checkpoint while hitchhiking. His decomposed remains were found on 15 August 2020; an autopsy determined he drowned but could not establish homicide, suicide, or accident, and the case remains unresolved as to responsibility.
- Where did the crime happen?
- Between General Daniel Cerri and Villarino Viejo, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: unsolved.
Related cases
View all cases
Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDICDeath of Facundo Astudillo CastroWikipedia · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — pagina12.com.arpagina12.com.ar · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — lanacion.com.arlanacion.com.ar · 2026-07-07
Record history
- First published
- JUL 07, 2026