Family of young Argentine found dead in Punta del Este demands case not be closed: they want 'all the answers'

The family of Pepa Almendra, an 18-year-old Argentine found dead in Punta del Este on July 28, is challenging the ongoing investigation into her death. Disagreeing with the current course, they have appointed legal representation to review the prosecution's and police's actions in the hours following her disappearance.

“

We want to have all the answers.

Their lawyer, Rafael Silva, plans to formally access the case file to analyze the steps taken by public agencies during the search for Almendra. The family wants to understand the prosecution's involvement, any investigative measures taken, the police's role, and the evidence the prosecution had regarding Pepa's whereabouts.

Almendra's body was discovered by the Coast Guard near the 5th stop of Playa Mansa. At the time, Maldonado police stated there was "no element that allows us to move away from the hypothesis of suicide." However, the family has raised questions, particularly concerning personal belongings found with the body.

“

We want to know what intervention the Prosecutor's Office had, what investigative measures were ordered, if any were ordered, what intervention the involved police station had, what communication there was between the station and the Prosecutor's Office, and what evidence the Prosecutor's Office had to know Pepa's whereabouts.

"We are going to do a job with the utmost precision because we find it hard to understand that in summer a Rolex disappeared and was found in two hours, and this girl could not be found in time and properly," stated the lawyer. The family aims to determine if there were "delays or eventual omissions" by the agencies involved in the search during the period Pepa went missing.

“

We are going to do a job with the utmost precision because we find it hard to understand that in summer a Rolex disappeared and was found in two hours, and this girl could not be found in time and properly.

Given the uncertainties, the family insists the case should not be closed and that the investigation should continue to uncover all details. "They want to have all the answers to each of their questions," Silva reiterated. Pepa Almendra Vergara di Benedetto had been living in Uruguay and her family had reported her disappearance to the local police after she left her apartment to go to a library in Maldonado.

“

They want to have all the answers to each of their questions.