Outrage and vigil over the hate crime against Vica Monteros in Córdoba

Vica was an architect and LGBT activist: she founded the first gay football team in Córdoba. Her family and LGBTQ+ organizations are demanding justice and emphasize that it was a hate crime.

April 16, 2026

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. Vica Monteros, 44, was born in Tucumán, worked in architecture, founded the first gay soccer team in Córdoba, and lived in that city in a traditional "chorizo" house in the Alberdi neighborhood. Police found his lifeless body there on Sunday, April 12, after responding to a fire alarm from neighbors. The killer apparently tried to set fire to the house to conceal the evidence of a brutal attack. Judicial sources informed Presentes that Vica had been beaten and stabbed more than 30 times. It is believed he had arranged a meeting through social media with his killer. A 27-year-old man who lived with his family was arrested two days later in connection with the crime.

The investigation continues with a series of forensic examinations and is being handled by the District 1 Prosecutor's Office of the province, headed by Guillermo González. So far, the detainee is accused of homicide with two aggravating circumstances: cruelty (because the extent of his actions far exceeded what was necessary to kill a person) and treachery (because, based on the condition of the body, it is inferred that he took advantage of the victim's vulnerability and defenselessness). He is being held at the Bouwer prison complex. He has no prior record of violence but was involved in a fraud case.

For now, the courts are not classifying it as a hate crime. However, LGBTQ+ organizations are already calling it one due to the brutality of the attack and are demanding justice, in a context of escalating violence against LGBTQ+ people in Argentina , where 2025 marked a turning point, according to the National Observatory of Hate Crimes .

On April 8 in Puerto Iguazú (Misiones) Claudia Gabriela Gómez, “Caí”, a 33-year-old trans woman who had been hospitalized since April 2, died as a result of an attack.

In Vica's case, the prosecutor involved is the same one who intervened in the investigation of the transfemicide of Azul Montoro, a 23-year-old trans woman murdered in 2017 with several stab wounds in a boarding house in the same city.

Vica's identity

Vica was a queer person. At their design and architecture studio, they went by the name Víctor Hugo Monteros. They arrived in Córdoba a few years ago. There, they developed a design and architecture studio where they worked. They were known as an LGBT rights activist.

Some of those close to her say she was a trans woman, while others say she was a gay man, a source told Presentes. Some believe she played with that duality, others that she may have been exploring a transition or embracing gender fluidity. Everyone agrees: she felt part of the LGBT movement and was a visible and proud queer person. She founded Córdoba's first gay soccer team, Fuma Espuma , which promoted diversity in sports. "Justice for our friend Vica," they said in a farewell message from that group.

Vigil for Justice for Vica

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @cordobadiversaok

Vica's family traveled from Tucumán to Córdoba to follow the investigation and assist with the legal proceedings. To do so, they had to hold a fundraiser to help cover the funeral expenses.

“He was an honest person, he loved his profession as an architect. He was full of projects, he loved us. He was my older brother. I want to clarify that he wasn't a trans woman, he was simply Vica,” his sister Luciana wrote on Facebook. “He lived for his pets and his family, surrounded by friends. He was cheerful, always with his positive vibes. He loved life. We want justice.” His brother Marcos also spoke to the media and asked, “I ask that justice be done, because beyond the abhorrent act, this is a crime because of his identity, because he was part of the LGBT community .

LGBT organizations have called for a vigil on Sunday at 6 p.m. in front of the Córdoba Courthouse. “Vica was murdered because of transphobia. This was not just another crime, and it is not an isolated incident. It is the result of the violence that exists, is increasing, and has gone unanswered by the State. We demand justice, we demand that this be investigated as a hate crime, and we demand an anti-discrimination law now,” stated ATTTA, Orgullo CBA, and Alerta. The organizations are also calling for the passage of an anti-discrimination law.

We are present

We are committed to journalism that delves into the territories and conducts thorough investigations, combined with new technologies and narrative formats. We want the protagonists, their stories, and their struggles to be present.