28-7-2023 (BUENOS AIRES) A murder investigation has been launched after the dismembered remains of missing millionaire Fernando Pérez Algaba, 41, were found by a group of children in Argentina over the weekend.
The horrifying discovery took place when the children stumbled upon a red suitcase containing body parts while playing by a stream in the town of Ingeniero Budge, Buenos Aires Province, as reported by Jam Press.
Upon notification by the children’s parents, the Buenos Aires police conducted an inspection and reportedly found the victim’s legs and forearm inside the suitcase, while another complete arm was discovered in the nearby stream. The missing head and torso were later found by authorities, as reported by El País.
The body parts exhibited clean amputation, indicating a possible involvement of a professional in the gruesome act, according to local media.
An autopsy later revealed that the victim had been shot three times before the dismemberment. The identification of Fernando Pérez Algaba was established through fingerprints and distinctive tattoos on the body parts. Algaba, an entrepreneur, had been reported missing since last Tuesday.
Argentine police are investigating the murder of crypto influencer Fernando Pérez Algaba. His dismembered remains were found in Buenos Aires, identified by tattoos and fingerprints. #EgayPH #Jailer #qsmp #SecretInvasion #ExclusiveFairyTale #AdekunleOlopade #MaineMendoza #qsmp pic.twitter.com/4lFreMW96Q
— That Guy Shane (@ProfanityNewz) July 28, 2023
The businessman had amassed wealth through luxury vehicle rentals and cryptocurrency sales, actively promoting his endeavors to his 900,000 Instagram followers.
While residing in Barcelona, Spain, Algaba had been in Argentina for about a week before the alleged murder. He had rented an apartment and was supposed to return the keys on July 19, but failed to show up or respond to the property owner’s calls, as testified by the landlord.
In connection with Algaba’s death, the police have apprehended one suspect. However, the motive behind the alleged murder remains unclear. Authorities suspect that the influencer may have been killed over mounting debts.
Algaba’s life story, known to friends as “Lechuga” (lettuce), started with humble beginnings, working from the age of 14. His journey from selling sandwiches on a bicycle to buying, repairing, and reselling vehicles culminated in owning a substantial warehouse filled with high-end cars, motorcycles, and jet skis by the age of 24.
Subsequently, Algaba founded a luxury car and jet ski rental firm in Miami before relocating to Barcelona earlier this year. During his final years, he was involved in cryptocurrency trading with a team of over 25 employees in Buenos Aires.
However, behind the apparent success, Algaba had accumulated “irrecoverable” debts with Argentina’s tax agency, and his company, “Motors Lettuce SRL,” started bouncing checks less than a year after its incorporation in January 2018.
Further investigation revealed that Algaba left a note on his phone, admitting significant losses from cryptocurrency investments, as reported by La Nacion. He was also reportedly associated with the Barra Bravas, a violent gang involved in Argentina’s soccer scene, and had allegedly been demanded to repay a $40,000 loan.
Algaba’s brother, Rodolfo Pérez Algaba, disputed claims that his late brother was a scammer and insisted he was merely a car salesman who struggled with Bitcoin investments. Rodolfo shared that their father’s inheritance funded Fernando’s business ventures, and his rise from poverty to prosperity was not as straightforward as portrayed.
Rodolfo mentioned that Fernando was under psychiatric treatment for an anxiety disorder, having had minimal contact with him for three months after an argument.
Despite the challenges in understanding the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death, Rodolfo expressed hope that justice would be served and that authorities could apprehend the killer.
