The dismembered remains of millionaire Fernando P?İrez Algaba, a prominent cryptocurrency influencer, were discovered by a group of children in Argentina over the weekend. The chilling case came to light when the kids found a red suitcase filled with body parts while playing near a stream in the town of Ingeniero Budge, Buenos Aires Province. The children's parents immediately alerted the Buenos Aires police, who found the victim's legs and forearm inside the suitcase. They also discovered another whole arm in the stream. On Wednesday, authorities found the missing head and torso. The body parts appeared to have been cleanly amputated, suggesting the work of a professional. An autopsy later revealed that Algaba had been shot three times before being dismembered.
Algaba, 41, had been reported missing on July 18. Prior to his disappearance, he had received threatening messages, including voice messages where a man identified as Iglesias threatened to cut out Algaba's eyes and chop off his hands. Iglesias, who was later identified as the son of an individual to whom Algaba owed $70,000, had allegedly left additional voicemails warning Algaba that they would soon meet face to face. Another individual known as Adrian Tesei also communicated with Algaba, expressing anger over an investment gone wrong and making threats.
The victim was identified by his fingerprints and distinctive tattoos found on the body parts. Algaba had amassed his fortune by renting high-end vehicles and selling cryptocurrency. He had a significant following on Instagram, where he showcased his luxury lifestyle to over 900,000 followers. However, Algaba had reportedly accumulated “irrecoverable” debts with Argentina's tax agency and had run into trouble with the Barra Bravas gang, who claimed he owed them $40,000.
According to a source close to Algaba, he had developed a gambling addiction that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite his growing debts, Algaba continued to buy cryptocurrency. He had left a note on his phone claiming to have lost a significant amount of money investing in crypto. Algaba had been staying in Argentina for a week before his alleged murder and had rented an apartment during his visit. However, he failed to return the keys or respond to the landlord's attempts to contact him.
Police have arrested one suspect in connection with Algaba's death. While the motive behind the alleged murder remains unclear, authorities suspect it may be related to Algaba's numerous debts. Algaba's brother, Rodolfo P?İrez Algaba, insists that his deceased sibling was not involved in any scams and was simply a car salesman who struggled with Bitcoin trading. Rodolfo hopes that justice will be served and the killer apprehended.
