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Murder of Natalia Melmann

SOLVED2001Miramar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Natalia Mariel Melmann, a 15-year-old Argentine student, was murdered on 4 February 2001 in Miramar, a coastal city in Buenos Aires Province. She was kidnapped by Gustavo Daniel Fernández, a 30-year-old ex-convict with ties to the local Miramar police force. She was then taken by police officers — Corporals Ricardo Alfredo Suárez and Ricardo Anselmini, and First Sergeant Óscar Alberto Echenique — to a cabin on the outskirts of the city, where she was tortured, raped, and ultimately killed with a shoe lace.

The involvement of serving police officers in the crime, combined with the brutality of the killing, generated intense public anger in Miramar and drew national attention in Argentina. Following the discovery of her body, approximately 6,000 residents stoned the local police station, causing substantial damage to the building.

The case proceeded to trial in September 2002. Suárez, Anselmini, and Echenique were tried and found guilty of Melmann's kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder, and were sentenced to life imprisonment. Fernández, the ex-convict who initially abducted her, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for kidnapping; additional time was added to his sentence in connection with a separate, earlier crime.

The case continued to receive media attention in the years following the convictions. In 2018, journalist Constanza Marina Sagula produced a 42-minute documentary chronicling the efforts of Melmann's family and friends in the aftermath of the murder.

Key facts

Victims
Natalia Mariel Melmann
Date
2001
Location
Miramar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2001-02-04

    Natalia Melmann, 15, is kidnapped in Miramar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina; she is subsequently tortured, raped, and murdered.

  2. 2002-09

    Trial begins against police officers Ricardo Alfredo Suárez, Ricardo Anselmini, and Óscar Alberto Echenique.

  3. 2018

    Journalist Constanza Marina Sagula releases a 42-minute documentary on the case and its aftermath for the Melmann family.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Gustavo Daniel Fernández

    CONVICTED

    Ex-convict with ties to Miramar police who kidnapped Melmann; sentenced to 25 years for kidnapping, with additional years added for a prior crime.

  • Ricardo Alfredo Suárez

    CONVICTED

    Miramar police corporal; found guilty of kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Ricardo Anselmini

    CONVICTED

    Miramar police corporal; found guilty of kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Óscar Alberto Echenique

    CONVICTED

    Miramar police first sergeant; found guilty of kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Natalia Mariel Melmann

    VICTIM

    15-year-old student kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered in Miramar, Argentina, on 4 February 2001.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Miramar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

-38.2700, -57.8300

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
In February 2001, 15-year-old Natalia Melmann was kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered in Miramar, Argentina, in a case that implicated local police officers and provoked widespread public outrage.
Where did the murder happen?
Miramar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
Who was convicted?
Gustavo Daniel Fernández (Ex-convict with ties to Miramar police who kidnapped Melmann; sentenced to 25 years for kidnapping, with additional years added for a prior crime.), Ricardo Alfredo Suárez (Miramar police corporal; found guilty of kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.), Ricardo Anselmini (Miramar police corporal; found guilty of kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.), and Óscar Alberto Echenique (Miramar police first sergeant; found guilty of kidnapping, torture, rape, and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Argentina

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Natalia MelmannWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSA 20 años del femicidio de Natalia Melmann: el dolor de su papáinfobae.com · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSNatalia Melmann: a 20 años de un crimen que no termina de cerrar las heridasdiarioeltiempo.com.ar · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 10, 2026