Prosecutor Ana María Caro has requested DNA analysis of a fifth suspect related to the murder of young Natalia Melmann in Miramar in February 2001. The individual in question is a 60-year-old former police officer currently residing in Trenque Lauquen, Buenos Aires Province.
The analysis process took place at the city's Forensic Advisory because the Scientific Police could not intervene due to the possible involvement of some suspects belonging to the police force. Natalia's body, aged 15, was found under a pile of leaves in the "Florentino Ameghino" nursery in Miramar. The autopsy revealed signs of strangulation with her shoelaces, as well as bruises, burns, fractures, and a blow to the skull.
The necropsy found genetic traces from five different people, confirming that the young woman was raped by multiple individuals. Ricardo Anselmini, Ricardo Suárez, and Oscar Echenique were sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2002 for the crimes of kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, and homicide. Gustavo "Gallo" Fernández, a former convict, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in the kidnapping, with the sentence later reduced to ten years.
On the other hand, Ricardo Panadero was acquitted twice due to lack of evidence, but in 2019, the Provincial Criminal Cassation Court ordered a new trial against him. In 2023, he was found guilty of aggravated illegal deprivation of liberty, aggravated sexual abuse, and homicide, receiving a life sentence for the crime of Natalia Melmann.
