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Patagonian cannibal murders

UNSOLVED1904Rural Río Negro Province, Argentina3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Los canibales del Rio Negro (1910)
Los canibales del Rio Negro (1910) — Credit: Caras y Caretas · Public domain

Overview

The Patagonian cannibal murders refer to a series of killings and disappearances in rural Río Negro, Argentina, between 1904 and 1909. The victims were primarily immigrant peddlers from the Ottoman Empire, and although the true number was never established, estimates range from around 60 to as many as 155. The case became widely known in Argentina as *la matanza de los turcos* ("the murder of the turks").

Start of the Investigation

The formal investigation began in May 1909 in El Cuy, Río Negro, prompted by an April 15 complaint from merchant Salomon Daud, himself an immigrant from the Ottoman Empire. Daud reported that his brother-in-law, Jose Elias, and an employee named Ezen had left General Roca in August 1907 to sell merchandise in the region's hinterland and never returned. Police chief Torino personally took charge of the case. Following Daud's proposed travel route, Torino reached the town of Lagunitas, where shopkeepers Nazarino Contin and Jose Inda were found in possession of goods allegedly belonging to the missing men. The shopkeepers, in turn, accused a nearby Mapuche community in Sierra Negra of the killings, a claim supported by local witnesses.

Arrests and Confessions

Torino began arresting Mapuche men from Sierra Negra. One of the first suspects, Juan Aburto, confessed that the two merchants had been lured to Sierra Negra with food and drink in January 1908, taken prisoner, killed, and that their organs were consumed in a ritual presided over by a "machi" (Mapuche sorceress). Aburto's confession implicated much of the community and claimed victims dated back to 1904. Ultimately, Torino obtained arrest warrants for 71 people out of roughly 200 suspects, and police recovered charred bones, rags, and other items believed to be tied to victims. Confessions also implicated local landowners, including a judge named Pablo Breñavez. The identity of the machi, described in testimony as an elderly, gravely ill woman named Antonia Guanche ("Macagua"), could not be verified through direct questioning due to her poor health.

Mismanagement and Collapse of the Case

The investigation attracted significant press attention, including a widely read February 1910 feature in the magazine *Caras y Caretas*. Additional complaints followed, including one from a man named Eldahuk alleging 155 disappearances. Federal Prosecutor Víctor Villafañe later found that Torino's confessions had been obtained through violence and were therefore inadmissible, and that physical evidence, including the charred bones, had not been properly forensically tested. Villafañe resigned in December 1911 after Judge Torres refused to release the suspects. Special Prosecutor De Rege, who succeeded Villafañe, concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed and accused Torres of destroying evidence; Torres was removed from the case in April 1912, and all remaining suspects were released by May 1912, some having died in custody due to unsanitary conditions. Torino himself later lost his position and was arrested.

Aftermath

The case was never solved. Modern historians have debated whether the confessions reflected any truth or were exaggerated, possibly for personal notoriety or as part of broader efforts to justify persecution of Patagonia's indigenous population.

Key facts

Victims
Ezen, Jose Elias
Date
1904
Location
Rural Río Negro Province, Argentina
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1904

    Alleged disappearances in rural Río Negro reported to have begun, according to later confessions.

  2. 1907-08

    Merchants Jose Elias and Ezen leave General Roca to sell merchandise and never return.

  3. 1908-01

    According to a suspect's confession, the two missing merchants were lured to Sierra Negra, killed, and allegedly ritually cannibalized.

  4. 1909-04-15

    Salomon Daud files a complaint about the disappearance of his brother-in-law and an employee.

  5. 1909-05

    Formal investigation begins in El Cuy, Río Negro, led by police chief Torino.

  6. 1910-02-05

    Magazine Caras y Caretas publishes a feature titled "The cannibals of Rio Negro," sparking public outcry.

  7. 1910-02-25

    Salomon Daud files an additional complaint alleging 60 more disappearances.

  8. 1911-12

    Federal Prosecutor Víctor Villafañe resigns in protest after Judge Torres refuses to release suspects.

  9. 1912-04

    Judge Torres is removed from the case after being accused of destroying evidence.

  10. 1912-05

    All remaining suspects are released from custody.

Best coverage

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People

  • Jose Inda

    CHARGED

    Lagunitas shopkeeper initially treated as a suspect after being found with goods allegedly belonging to victims.

  • Nazarino Contin

    CHARGED

    Lagunitas shopkeeper initially treated as a suspect after being found with goods allegedly belonging to victims.

  • Francisco Muñoz

    CHARGED

    Suspect described in confession testimony as having beheaded and dismembered one of the victims.

  • Juan Aburto

    CHARGED

    Mapuche man arrested and charged; gave a confession describing the killing and alleged ritual cannibalism of the missing merchants.

  • Julian Muñoz

    CHARGED

    Suspect quoted in confession testimony describing eating part of a victim's heart.

  • Torres

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Federal Judge who refused to release suspects and was later removed from the case after being accused of destroying evidence.

  • Torino

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Police chief (comisario) who led the investigation, obtained the disputed confessions, and was later removed from his position and arrested.

  • Ezen

    VICTIM

    Employee of Jose Elias, reported missing alongside him in 1907.

  • Pablo Breñavez

    CHARGED

    Local judge implicated in suspect testimony as having purchased stolen merchandise and potions linked to the case.

  • Jose Elias

    VICTIM

    Merchant reported missing in 1907 after leaving General Roca to sell goods; alleged victim of the killings.

  • De Rege

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Special Prosecutor who succeeded Villafañe and concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution.

  • Antonia Guanche

    CHARGED

    Identified in testimony as the Mapuche "machi" (sorceress/healer) allegedly presiding over ritual killings; too ill to be questioned by investigators.

  • Víctor Villafañe

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Federal Prosecutor who determined confessions were obtained through torture and evidence was insufficient; resigned in protest in December 1911.

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

Archival records

  • Los canibales del Rio Negro (1910)

    other document

    Los canibales del Rio Negro (1910)

    Credit: Caras y Caretas · Public domain · Source

Places

Rural Río Negro Province, Argentina

-40.0000, -67.0000

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Between 1904 and 1909, dozens of immigrant peddlers from the Ottoman Empire vanished in rural Río Negro, Argentina, amid allegations of ritual cannibalism by a Mapuche community; over 70 people were arrested and charged, but the case collapsed after confessions were found to have been extracted through torture, and it remains unsolved.
Where did the murders happen?
Rural Río Negro Province, Argentina.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Argentina

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICPatagonian cannibal murdersWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSLa horrible historia de los caníbales de la Patagonia: la banda que se comió a más de un centenar de personasinfobae.com · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSLa macabra historia de la banda caníbal que mató a más de 100 personas en la Patagonialanacion.com.ar · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026