Femicide of Agostina Vega: Investigation secrecy ordered as probe widens

Investigators in Córdoba, Argentina, are intensifying their probe into the femicide of Agostina Vega, focusing on whether others were aware of the suspect's illicit activities, beyond the material authorship of the crime. The investigation is also exploring the possibility of similar past offenses occurring at the suspect's residence.

Claudio Barrelier, the sole suspect and detainee, has not yet been formally interrogated for the femicide charge. He remains in the psychiatric unit of Bouwer prison. The prosecutor, Raúl Garzón, is meticulously gathering details about the crime and the movements of key individuals before proceeding with Barrelier's questioning.

New procedures were conducted at the house where Agostina was allegedly murdered, including examining bathroom fixtures and floor sections. The victim's remains were buried in Colonia Tirolesa amidst family tensions, with her mother, Melisa Heredia, still hospitalized and awaiting her testimony.

Authorities are cross-referencing data from seized mobile phones, which have yielded several promising leads. Approximately 150 individuals are reportedly involved in the investigation. The bar 'Wachitas,' where Barrelier's ex-partner worked and which she used to lend him the car to transport Agostina's body, has been sealed by the municipality after a previous police raid. The ex-partner is currently considered a witness, but this status could change.

Prosecutor Garzón has declared a 10-day secrecy order on the case, a move often preceding significant developments such as new charges or arrests. This decision comes despite some public questioning of his handling of the case.

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The prior interventions of Dr. Daniel Esteban Báez reveal a degree of involvement incompatible with his subsequent role as a judge: he ordered the opening of the investigation, made immediate public assessments of the investigated facts, and participated in institutional acts.