DistantNews
Support us
Two-Year-Old Dies in Salta; Mother and Partner Investigated for Abuse
🇦🇷 Argentina /Crime & Justice

Two-Year-Old Dies in Salta; Mother and Partner Investigated for Abuse

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A two-year-old boy, Thiago Altamirano, died in Salta, Argentina, under suspicious circumstances, leading to the arrest of his mother and her partner.
  • The mother brought the child to a hospital reporting a home accident, but medical staff noted severe injuries, prompting a transfer and subsequent investigation.
  • Neighbors reported previous violence at the home, and the child's paternal aunt claimed multiple prior reports of mistreatment were made, alleging the mother was protected by a social worker.

Authorities in Salta, Argentina, are investigating the suspicious death of a two-year-old boy, Thiago Altamirano, after his mother and her partner were arrested.

The child's 19-year-old mother brought Thiago to the Papa Francisco hospital, claiming he had fallen from a bed at home. However, medical personnel observed the severity of his injuries and transferred him to the Materno Infantil Hospital, where he arrived without vital signs. Due to the critical condition and nature of the injuries, both the mother and her 32-year-old partner were detained. The Prosecutor's Office ordered their arrest and transfer to the General Holding Center.

The Justice system and the Women's Center only listened to the mother. Known people and neighbors already knew what she was like. She would leave the children with anyone.

— Child's auntExpressing frustration with how authorities handled previous reports of mistreatment.

Local media reported that neighbors spoke out after the boy's death, mentioning prior incidents of violence at the home and directing accusations at the mother's partner. Meanwhile, Thiago's paternal family publicly shared their concerns. The child's aunt stated that the mother had been "protected by a social worker" and that authorities "only listened to the mother." She claimed that acquaintances and neighbors were aware of the mother's behavior, noting she would leave the children with anyone. The aunt also asserted that five previous reports had been filed regarding mistreatment and neglect concerning Thiago and his ten-month-old brother, who had also been admitted to the hospital with scratches.

Daniel Espilocín, leading the investigation at the Prosecutor's Office, has requested an autopsy and further complementary studies. Forensic teams have also conducted examinations at the residence. The Public Prosecutor's Office of Salta announced that formal charges against the mother and stepfather are scheduled for Thursday. Espilocín indicated that they would be provisionally charged as alleged perpetrators of aggravated homicide. The prosecutor confirmed the existence of prior complaints against the mother for alleged mistreatment and assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure a thorough investigation.

The criminal prosecutor 2 of the Unit of Serious Attacks against Persons, Daniel Espilocín, informed that within the framework of the investigation he is carrying out for the death of a two-year-old child, he will provisionally charge a 19-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man as alleged perpetrators of the crime of aggravated homicide.

— Ministry Public Prosecutor of SaltaAnnouncing the formal charges against the mother and stepfather.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog