Catalina Gutierres was born in February 2003, being the youngest daughter of Marcelo and Eleonora. The couple also had another daughter, Lúcia. Catalina was described as a studious, charming, and delicate young woman with a great appreciation for learning new things.
She enjoyed singing, playing the guitar, and was passionate about dogs. Like many teenagers, Catalina used social media to share her daily life, gradually gaining followers. Without intending to, she became an influencer, amassing about 115,000 followers on Instagram and more than 47,000 on TikTok.
Catalina was born in Atiras, Argentina, but moved with her family to Córdoba, the country’s second most populous city, recognized for its cultural and tourist significance, when she was still a child. Marcelo, her father, was a renowned architect, leading prominent projects nationwide. Inspired by him, Catalina enrolled in the Architecture program at the National University of Córdoba after finishing high school.
Disappearance
In 2024, at 21 years old, Catalina began dating Ezequiel, a fellow student at the same university. Friends and family described the couple as loving and happy. However, on July 17, the young woman, who was preparing to return to classes after the holidays, arranged to meet friends at a shopping mall.
Although her mother was concerned about the rising crime rate in the area, Catalina managed to convince her to let her go, promising to stay in touch during the outing.
Catalina left home around 9 PM, using her mother’s car. On the way, she sent a voice message to her boyfriend, saying she would arrive in a few minutes. The drive from her house to the mall would take about 15 minutes, but as time passed, she didn’t show up.
Worried, her friends started calling her without success. Ezequiel contacted Catalina’s sister, who confirmed she was not at home either.
Around 10 PM, Catalina’s family decided to go to the police station to report her disappearance. Her boyfriend and friends provided important information, including the last audio message she sent. Lúcia, the sister, remembered that they had enabled geolocation on their phones for mutual tracking.
With this, they tracked Catalina’s phone to a neighborhood 2 km from her house. There, they found her car partially burned, and in the back seat, Catalina was already lifeless.
Contradictions in Testimony
Forensic analysis revealed that the car’s interior was soaked with alcohol, used to start the fire, which extinguished due to a lack of oxygen. Catalina showed no signs of gunshots or cuts, but there were indications of a struggle.
The official cause of death was asphyxiation, but it was unclear if it occurred through human action or objects. With robbery ruled out as a motive, investigators began focusing on those close to the victim.
Among the suspects was Nestor Soto, a close friend of Catalina. He was also an Architecture student and had become very close to the family, often attending family events. Although initially very distressed and cooperative, Nestor contradicted himself during his testimony.
GPS analysis of his phone revealed that he had been at the location where Catalina was found, raising further suspicions.
Unrevealed Details
Confronted with the evidence, Nestor confessed to the crime. He claimed to have acted out of jealousy over Catalina’s relationship with Ezequiel, but his confession was interrupted to allow a lawyer to be present.
Later, Nestor was formally charged, and investigations continue to determine the possible involvement of an accomplice. Some witnesses reported hearing voices arguing at the crime scene, and security cameras recorded another vehicle at the location.
The case garnered significant attention, especially among Catalina’s followers. During the funeral, hundreds of people attended to pay their respects.
With the trial scheduled for December 2024, the family still seeks answers and justice for Catalina. The case remains full of loose ends, and it is very likely that more details will emerge. I will certainly bring them to you firsthand.
