From Córdoba.— He black smoke It rises on the corner of Alem and Rancagua, in the General Mosconi neighborhood, in Córdoba. It comes from a pile of tires, wood and cardboard that some neighbors set on fire and are feeding little by little. A few meters away, the presence of patrol cars can be seen. Police deployment is extensive, but at the moment there are no riots.
It is around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and a little over two hours ago the news that no one wanted to hear was confirmed. Agostina Vega is dead, they killed her: His remains appeared in an open field after two days of searching..
Although the 14-year-old teenager had been missing for seven days, there was still hope among her family, neighbors and friends of finding her alive. The discovery of his remains transformed anguish into anger.
As the news began to circulate in Córdoba, more and more people came to the teenager’s family home, on 3700 Alem Street. Many still carried in their hands the same signs that they had used during the marches of the previous days. “Where is Agostina?” said one. “Let it appear now,” demanded another. “We are still looking for Agostina Vega,” read another.
Inside the house the climate is devastating. Relatives cry, hug and lament. “Nobody listened to us. They didn’t do anything. How long did it take them?”“, reproached an aunt of the minor.
Outside the home, meanwhile, the popular anger begins to spread. It no longer aims solely against Claudio Barrelier, until now, the only one arrested for the crime. It also reaches the police and provincial authorities. “Quinteros son of a bitch”some shout in reference to the Minister of Security of Córdoba. Others criticize the police action during the search and the alleged delay in declaring the Sofia Alert. “They cared more about a soccer game than about the disappearance of a girl,” a neighbor complains. “The minister should have resigned by now,” he adds. “We are going to set everything on fire.”they continue.
As a precaution, Some merchants in the area decide to lower the blinds of their premises ahead of time..
Agostina’s mother is not present. As his lawyer explained, Carlos Nayi, Melisa Heredia suffered a strong decompensation and was transferred to a health center. “He is in intensive care, with severe dehydration, hypertension and some organic complications. He still does not know the official news,” the lawyer explained.
Many of those who are there summoned themselves. They had already done it the previous days to accompany the family’s claim in the midst of searching for the young woman. “We are heartbroken”says a woman who came along with other mothers from the neighborhood. “We are here out of solidarity. As the saying goes: ‘Today for you, tomorrow for me’. We all have children,” he explains. “Yes, we are a community,” responds another.
They are also Agostina’s schoolmatessome still crying after having heard the news on television. “Agos was good vibes; half a quilombera, but good vibes”one of the boys describes it. “Whatever it was, he didn’t deserve to die. He was 14 years old, his whole life ahead of him.”adds another.
On the sidewalk of the Agostina comilio they improvised an altar and lit candles to honor the teenager
As the minutes pass, the nervousness escalates. Around 7:30 p.m., the prosecutor Raul Garzon and the Minister of Security Juan Pablo Quinteros hold a press conference to report on research progress. But the explanations they offer are not enough to calm things down. The tension perceived in the streets is also transferred within the premises. Garzón rejects questions about the investigation and maintains several encounters with journalists who ask him about the search for the teenager and the measures adopted during the seven days she remained missing.
Late at night, dozens of neighbors mobilized to the Juan Pablo II Police Detachment, located a few blocks from Agostina’s house. The first incidents occurred there. Some protesters threw stones at the building. Police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas.. There were runs, screams and moments of lack of control.
In the middle of that scene, Agostina’s grandfather appeared, Michael Herediawho could not contain crying in front of the cameras. “I did not expect this news, it is the worst we could have received in our lives”he said with a broken voice. “I am going to continue marching until I have the justice that my granddaughter needs. They killed my granddaughter. I want everyone who had anything to do with his death to fall.”, he continued.
The night advances over Córdoba and the smoke continues to cover part of the avenue. The city that for a week asked that Agostina appear alive now demands answers.
