Nine people are set to face trial for the sexual abuse, strangling and dismembering of an 11-year-old boy in a ritual sacrifice to a Disney cartoon demon.
Mario Agustin Salto ‘Marito’ disappeared from his home in the town of Quimili in the Argentinian province of Santiago del Estero on 31st May 2016. The son of a day labourer in the soy industry, he was last seen fishing in a reservoir.
His dismembered body was found two days later by a local resident. His head was wrapped in a white bag, his torso and limbs were found in a black bag, and the man saw a dog dragging a human leg between its teeth.
The body parts were sent for a post-mortem, and forensic pathologists concluded the victim had been sexually assaulted before being fatally strangled with a wire or steel cable. He was then beheaded and his legs were cut off.
Now, over five years on, nine suspects are finally set to face trial in the state capital of Santiago del Estero. The trial was due to begin tomorrow, (Thursday, 2nd December). However, the prime suspect has presented a new defence lawyer, which may delay the start date.
Fifty-one-year-old cotton producer Miguel Angel Jimenez ‘El Terrible’ (‘The Terrible’), is the suspected mastermind of the crime. He had participated in marches demanding justice for Marito, according to media outlet Infobae, possibly to throw cops off the scent. However, sniffer dogs led the police to his house, where incriminating evidence abounded.
According to investigators, Marito was killed in a ritual sacrifice. An altar to the folk saint San La Muerte (Saint Death) was found in Jimenez’ home, as was a piece of paper with drawings of occult diagrams and figures including Bill Cipher, a triangular-shaped demon who is the main villain in the Disney cartoon series ‘Gravity Falls’.
On the piece of paper were also written the phrases “Marito’s sacrifice”, “control of ritual life”, “I have his virility”, “San La Muerte brings eternal life”, “his day has arrived”, “to Marito”, “his sexual act”, “virgin”, and “his spirit”.
Among the other defendants are 45-year-old casual labourer Rodolfo Adrian Sequeira ‘Rody’ and 59-year-old Ramon Eduardo Rodriguez ‘El Burra’, in whose garden a dead dog was found hanging from a tree. The two, Jimenez, and Daniel Tomas Sosa are accused of several crimes including aggravated murder and sexual abuse with carnal intrusion. They face life in jail.
Meanwhile, Daniel Gaston, Ramon Enrique Ocaranza, Maria Eugenia Montes, Gustavo Daniel Hernandez and Pablo Roberto Ramirez are accused of cover-up. They are currently at liberty, whereas the other four are in preventive custody.
Almost 400 witnesses are expected to testify at the trial.
