Mar del Plata lived a weekend under violence and insecurity: tired, the neighbors decided to demonstrate

Mar del Plata endured a weekend marked by violence and insecurity, prompting residents to take to the streets in protest. The city has been grappling with a surge in crime, culminating in two homicides and a femicide within a span of 24 hours. The body of Johana Mailén Antonich was found in a cabin complex near the Punta Mogotes beaches, bearing wounds from a sharp object and signs of attempted sexual assault. This incident has deeply unsettled the community, highlighting an ongoing escalation in criminal activity and violence that had been simmering for weeks. Residents have expressed growing frustration over the lack of police presence and action in response to rising incidents of theft, both on the street and in homes. Authorities at both provincial and local levels have remained largely silent regarding the situation, despite the district having recorded nearly 30 crimes this year, many of which occurred in the context of disputes or settling old scores. Social tensions are beginning to rise, with plans underway for a demonstration set for Wednesday afternoon in the heart of the city aimed at uniting isolated complaints from different neighborhoods. The call for the gathering comes amid the confirmation of the murder of Héctor Ruiz, a hardware store owner shot dead by two motorbike thieves during an attempted robbery in the northwest part of the city earlier in the day. This followed the death of Alberto Rodríguez, who was reportedly beaten and shot after stealing a car used for rideshare services. Between yesterday and early today, the bodies of these three victims were laid to rest. Family members of Antonich learned that prosecutor Carlos Russo, investigating the three murders, had ordered a 48-hour secrecy order on the case. Those accused of the killing of Antonich are José Luis Aquino and Agustín Díaz Bartolomé, detained at the Punta Cantera resort, which still lacks proper licensing. They refused to testify when questioned about the murder of the young woman. Both men, or at least one of them, worked as security guards. They are charged with beating, stabbing, and killing Antonich, a 24-year-old mother of two children aged one and six years, who held an informal job working night shifts at a local establishment and was seeking additional income. Her family confirmed this information. One of Antonich's four brothers stated, "When we went looking for her, we were sure they still had her hidden, I don't know if she was alive." He mentioned that he and his siblings took charge of the search when the police delayed processing their missing person report. Antonich had arrived at the location due to what appeared to be a potential work opportunity. A taxi driver who transported her there and with whom she was starting a relationship testified in the case, stating he left her at the entrance of the resort last Friday afternoon. He later went to look for her that evening but assumed she had already left. Some of Antonich’s relatives point to him as a possible suspect, noting he lives in the same neighborhood as one of the detainees. For now, however, he is considered a witness by the authorities. Walter Antonich, the victim's brother, and Luis, an uncle of the young woman, visited the resort twice, questioning the security personnel. During their second visit, they became suspicious of the individuals. Particularly when they noticed that the suspects had not yet been formally identified or questioned by the police. The investigation continues, with more details expected to emerge as the legal process unfolds.