04/07/2026 03:33 - Judiciales
In a historic day for justice in the Argentine province of Neuquén, a popular jury found Alcides Ramón Reyes criminally responsible for the femicide of Mabel Rosana López Fernández. The verdict was reached by a majority of 9 out of 12 votes, classifying the crime as aggravated homicide due to the bond and gender-based violence.
The prosecution reconstructed the events that took place on November 9, 2025, along the road connecting Villa Pehuenia (a well-known tourist destination in the Andes) and Zapala (a major city in central Neuquén). According to the case theory, Reyes had an argument with the victim and exerted physical violence against her before deliberately detouring towards the Kilka bridge area, on Provincial Route 13.
The defendant drove deliberately to the bridge area and threw the truck into a ravine with Mabel inside. The impact caused multiple severe injuries that led to her immediate death. Seconds before the fall, Reyes forced two passengers who were traveling with them to get out of the vehicle. These two individuals became key witnesses during the trial.
The trial took place in the city of Zapala over five intense days of debate on July 3, 2026, after which the jury deliberated for approximately one hour. The technical direction was led by criminal judge Diego Chavarría Ruíz.
The prosecution team from the Public Prosecutor Office was led by Chief Prosecutor Matías Álvarez, case prosecutor Laura Pizzipaulo, and legal assistant Guillermo Rodríguez. Álvarez highlighted before the tribunal that they managed to prove with scientific certainty and testimonies the material authorship of the accused in this criminal attack.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
