A Family Violence Case That Ends in Tragedy

The town of Castelar, located in the Morón district of Buenos Aires Province, became the scene of a chilling discovery that came to light on Thursday, June 26, 2025. What initially began as an investigation into an attempted homicide against the father turned into an even more macabre confession: the detainee admitted to having murdered his mother and buried the corpse in the backyard of his home.

For foreign readers unfamiliar with Argentine geography, Castelar is a residential neighborhood approximately 30 kilometers west of downtown Buenos Aires, known for its quiet streets and family homes. This tragedy has shaken the community's sense of safety.

The accused is identified as Carlos Ignacio Costa Martínez, 24 years old. He was being held at a police station in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) under the jurisdiction of Criminal and Correctional Court N° 49, accused of attempting to kill his father. It was during a visit he received at the police station that, shockingly, he recounted the other crime.

In Argentina, police stations often serve as temporary detention centers for suspects awaiting trial, especially in cases involving serious crimes.

Following the young man's confession, the Functional Instruction Unit (UFI) N° 1 of Morón, led by Prosecutor Javier Ghessi, requested an urgent search warrant for the property located at Arrecifes 1200, authorized by Guarantees Court N° 5.

Officers from the Buenos Aires Province Police and Firefighters conducted a meticulous search in the backyard of the property. There, after digging several meters into a deep pit, they found the body of Graciela Martínez, 54 years old. The body was inside a waste bag. Specialized firefighter personnel were required to recover the remains.