Crypto millionaire's body found in pieces; police investigates possible link to threatening messages
Fernando Pérez Algaba, a cryptocurrency influencer and entrepreneur, was found dead on Sunday, July 23 after his dismembered remains were found.
According to a FOX News report, a group of children playing near the stream discovered a suitcase containing severed arms and legs, which they immediately flagged to the local police. The authorities were able to confirm Fernando's identity by his tattoos and fingerprints.
Days after, his head and torso were discovered floating downstream amid the police search.
Fernando was reportedly missing on Wednesday, July 19 when he did not return the keys to the owner of the apartment he had rented on the southern outskirts of the Argentine capital.
According to the autopsy, the 41-year-old crypto influencer was shot three times before his limbs were “cleanly” amputated, the report said.
The motive wasn’t confirmed yet, but the police found numerous money issues with Fernando, such as debt.
Police have found that Fernando has an “irrevocable” debt with Argentina’s tax agency. They also alleged that he got into trouble with the Barra Bravas gang who they said Fernando owed them a $40,000 (P2.1 million) loan.
Additionally, Fernando reportedly received death threats from a man identified as “Iglesias.”
"I’m going to kill you, I’m going to do something worse to you," a man said in a voice message obtained by the police. “I’m going to gouge out your eyes and cut off your hands so that you can’t have any more money in your life."
"I swear on my children that I have no problem going to jail," the man added.
According to the reports, Fernando swindled Iglesias’ son worth $70,000 (nearly P4 million), which made the latter “medicate” himself.
On the other hand, Fernando’s brother refuted claims that her brother was a swindler.
"If they had shot him, I can think it would have been a settling of scores, but what doesn't close me is that they cut him as they cut him," said Rodolfo Pérez Algaba, Fernando’s brother, in an interview according to an A24 report.
Fernando Algaba was a pizza delivery boy before becoming a crypto influencer who amassed over 900,000 followers on Instagram.