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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. Nine of the ten Buenos Aires police officers arrested on May 1st for the murder of Sofía Fernández were released. The only one detained was Carlos Rodríguez, an assistant officer, after a heavy load of evidence was discovered against him.

The decision was made by the 7th Court of Guarantees of the Municipality of Pilar. The document ordering the officers' release explains that there is no evidence that they were at the police station during the time the trans woman was allegedly murdered.

The homicide case is being handled by a team of prosecutors consisting of Esteban Álvarez, the San Isidro prosecutor for illicit drug investigations; Manuel Cayuela, from the gender department; and Victoria Santamaría, an assistant prosecutor who also specializes in the subject.

Sofía Fernández's family warned of the seriousness of this and will appeal the measure. Furthermore, protection for the family was requested more than ten days ago.  

The situation of the accused

The court's ruling does not mean the officers will not continue to face prosecution. Four of them were accused of being the perpetrators of the hate-based murder. They are Assistant Officer Ezequiel Francisco Ávalos Ibáñez, 32; Sergeant Germán Gonzalo Robles, 29; Sergeant Yésica Isabel Núñez, 32; and Second Lieutenant Viviana Edith Ruiz.

The other five who were also released were being held for "covering up the crime." They are Daniel Eduardo Salerni, head of the Pilar 2nd Precinct; Miriam Elisabeth Valor, a 38-year-old deputy commissioner; Camila Belén Pitulak, a 27-year-old officer; Gabriela Itatí Mino, a 35-year-old sergeant; and Gustavo Gabriel Camacho, an assistant officer, also 35.

Days earlier, they had been granted house arrest after holding a march outside the courthouse.

The only one arrested

According to what could be deduced through the forensic examination, Sofía died during the early hours of Monday, April 10, 2023. Witnesses reportedly saw her around 2:30 a.m.

The court ruling explains that the only person present at the Derqui 5th Precinct during that time was Assistant Officer Carlos Rodríguez. He was also the only person in custody of the keys to Sofía's cell. He was also in charge of the nighttime inspections, during which, he stated at the time, he did not detect any irregularities.

Sofía's body was found hours later. According to the autopsy, she died of asphyxiation, but she showed signs of being beaten, tortured, and sexually abused.

Protection for the police

In the final weeks of May, the plaintiff filed a brief expressing its opposition to the request for expert witnesses submitted by the police officers' defense. These experts were currently active in the same police force.

They are Ricardo Grubisa, a senior commissioner and forensic specialist; Fernando Maldonado, a psychiatrist and forensic specialist; Valeria Stingo, a deputy commissioner and criminology and criminalistics specialist; and Luis Vizcarra, a photography and video expert and forensic expert from the La Plata Police Department.

The police did not turn to public defenders. The Ministry of Security of the Province of Buenos Aires provided four professionals for the police.

Sofia's crime

Sofía was murdered between April 8 and 10 while detained at the 5th Police Station in Presidente Derqui. The motive for her arrest is still unclear.

She was 36 years old and was about to begin her nursing degree while she was completing her registration change. Her family learned of her arrest on April 8 and have been trying to see her ever since, but the police have prevented them from contacting her.

On the morning of April 11, members of the Gendarmerie went to the house to inform them that the woman had been found dead.