The search continues for Tehuel, a 22-year-old trans man who has been missing since March 11.

Tehuel is a young trans man who was last seen on March 11, in Alejandro Korn, Buenos Aires province.

March 26, 2021

By SM and VR

Tehuel De la Torre, a young trans man who turned 22 on Friday, March 26, disappeared on March 11. That day he left his home in San Vicente for the La Esperanza neighborhood in Alejandro Korn. The first person to report his disappearance was his partner. She filed a report at the San Vicente First Police Station and stated that the young man had gone to the home of a man he knew, LAR, 37, for a job interview as a waiter at an event.

During a police operation at this person's home, a burned phone and clothing that could belong to Tehuel, based on his partner's description, were found. The man is under arrest. Another person is also detained, accused of accessory after the fact.

In an interview with Presentes, Verónica Alarcón, the missing young man's sister, insisted: “We have to keep searching to find him. Today is a special day, it's his birthday, and the whole family is devastated not being able to have him here.” Regarding the hypotheses being investigated by the authorities, she said: “I think he was at this man's house. He knew him from before because they both participated in marches. I think it was about three years ago.”

The investigation is being led by prosecutor Karina Guyot of the Decentralized Functional Instruction Unit (UFI) of San Vicente. The National Gendarmerie and trained dogs from the Argentine Federal Police are participating in the search operations. The searches, some conducted by security forces and others involving residents of San Vicente, have intensified in recent days in the open areas surrounding the neighborhoods of La Esperanza and La Laurita in Alejandro Korn.

While the forensic examinations of the items seized at the suspect's house are progressing, a collection of traces was carried out in search of blood remains for DNA comparison.

On Friday afternoon, a torchlight march was held in his name, with the slogan "Tehuel's silence is our cry for justice ." It began at the intersection of Alejandro Korn (Hipólito Yrigoyen -Provincial Route 210- and Presidente Perón) and ended at 1200 Mansilla Street, in the La Esperanza neighborhood, where the young man was last seen.

A meeting was called for Monday in Buenos Aires.

Verónica described Tehuel as a very family-oriented young man who ran errands and did some household chores, and who was currently looking for work. “When I arrived, I would ask him to run errands for me, we would drink mate, share many things, he’s a lot of fun,” she added.

Tehuel has one year left to finish high school. He dropped out to "take on more odd jobs," such as mowing lawns and selling bakery items. "They lived day to day; his contribution was necessary at home," his sister said.

When news of the disappearance broke, confusion arose in numerous media outlets regarding Tehuel's gender identity. Even some of his family members were "obsessed" by something as basic as his right to gender identity as a trans man, and on more than one occasion refused to acknowledge it.

When asked about it, Verónica explained that Tehuel had been open about his gender identity since he was 13. “On my mother’s side of the family, everything was fine. We understood perfectly. As far as I know, he didn’t even have any problems at school due to discrimination.” Visibly moved by the occasion, she ended the interview with a message for her brother: “Happy birthday, wherever you are.”

To provide data

The last time Tehuel was seen, he was wearing gray pants, a white short-sleeved shirt, a blue jacket, a cap, and blue sneakers. He has a stocky build, fair skin, short dark hair, and is about 5 feet 5 inches tall.

"If anyone knows anything, please call the police; the family is waiting for you," his sister urged. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the San Vicente Decentralized UFI (Ufi Decentralizada) by phone at 0221-429-3015 or by email at perdes@mseg.gba.gov.ar .

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