Fernando Pérez Algaba, a millionaire crypto influencer who went missing last week, was found dead in a suitcase near a stream. Police suspect he was killed over his debts.
Fernando Pérez Algaba, a 41-year-old crypto influencer with nearly a million followers on Instagram, was found dead and dismembered in a suitcase in Argentina.
His mutilated body was discovered by a group of children who were playing near a stream in the town of Ingeniero Budge, Buenos Aires Province, on Sunday.
Algaba, who lived in Barcelona, Spain, had been missing since last Tuesday. He had been staying in Argentina for a week before his disappearance.
He was known for flaunting his lavish lifestyle on social media, funded by his crypto investments and luxury car and jet ski rental business.
The children who found the suitcase alerted their parents, who called the police.
The authorities inspected the package and found Algaba’s legs and forearm inside, along with four documents belonging to a family in the town he was staying in. They also found another arm in the stream.
On Wednesday, the police found Algaba’s head and torso. The body parts were cleanly amputated, suggesting the work of a professional.
An autopsy revealed that Algaba had been shot three times before the dismemberment. The police identified Algaba by his fingerprints and distinctive tattoos on his body parts.
Police Arrest Suspect, Probe Debts
The police have launched a murder investigation and arrested one suspect in connection with Algaba’s death.
Nicol Alma Chamorro, a trans woman, has reportedly been charged with killing Algaba as they believed she may have murdered him to settle a score.
However, the police continued the investigation as they believe others might have been involved.
The motive behind the alleged murder remains unclear, but the authorities suspect that Algaba was killed over his numerous debts.
According to Argentina’s tax agency, Algaba’s Buenos Aires-based crypto trading company, Motors Lettuce SRL, was in serious debt.
Algaba’s brother, Rodolfo Pérez Algaba, revealed that the crypto-influencer was in financial trouble as he had lost a fortune to bad investments in some crypto-related funds and because of the money he owed the tax authorities in Argentina.
He also said that Algaba had left a note on his phone about losing a lot of money on various crypto investments shortly before he went missing.
He also alluded to getting a hefty loan from an Argentinian gang Barra Bravas and wrote,
“If something happens to me, everyone is already warned.”
Rodolfo Pérez Algaba insisted that his brother was not a scammer and had simply underperformed when he entered the crypto space. He vowed to find his brother’s killers and ensure he got justice for him.
From Rags to Riches to Death
Algaba’s death marked a tragic end for the businessman, who started working at age 14.
He said he started with a bicycle and a box and sold sandwiches. He then graduated to buy vehicles to repair and resell.
By the time he was 24, he had a large warehouse full of high-end cars, motorcycles, and jet skis. He later founded a luxury car and jet ski rental firm in Miami before moving to Barcelona earlier this year.
During his final years, Algaba was involved in trading cryptocurrency from an office in Buenos Aires with over 25 employees. He frequently advertised his crypto investments to his 900,000 followers on Instagram.
Algaba’s death has shocked his fans and followers, who expressed their condolences and disbelief on social media.
