Argentina arrests 'candy jackal' accused of abusing minors for a decade

Argentine Federal Police have arrested a 42-year-old man suspected of repeatedly abusing minors over a ten-year period in the Moreno district of Buenos Aires province. The suspect, a Paraguayan bricklayer, was known in his neighborhood for his kindness and for distributing sweets to local children, earning him the moniker "the candy jackal" among investigators.

“

The facts attributed to him occurred between March 2014 and October 2024 inside a property located in the Buenos Aires town of Mariano Acosta, where the parents of six minors left them in the care of the accused, as he was part of their circle of trust.

Authorities allege that between March 2014 and October 2024, the man exploited the trust of parents who left their six children in his care at his home. He is accused of constant threats, using a machete to intimidate the children and displaying a rifle to reinforce his threats of harming their parents if they spoke out.

The decade of alleged abuse was exposed when one of the victims began experiencing learning difficulties and received psychological support. During therapy, specialists detected signs consistent with sexual abuse, prompting other victims to come forward and share their experiences. The revelation led to an immediate reaction from the victims' families, who reportedly burned down the suspect's house when they couldn't find him.

“

The fear he imposed was broken when one of the victims received psychological support and managed to tell the horror experienced.

Investigating detectives from the PFA's Homicide Division, under prosecutor Fernando Manuel Siquier Rodríguez, gathered initial evidence. A surprising detail emerged: neighbors described the suspect as a well-behaved bricklayer with no vices or conflicts, who freely gave candy to neighborhood children. The investigation focused on the suspect's contacts, leading to the surveillance of a nephew's home, which ultimately resulted in the arrest.

“

As they gathered the first elements about the person involved, a piece of information emerged that particularly caught the attention of the investigators: among his neighbors, he was known as a well-behaved bricklayer, without vices or conflicts, who in his free time used to give candy to the children in the neighborhood.