The remains of crypto influencer Fernando Pérez Algaba were found in a suitcase in Argentina over the weekend, according to reports.
Algaba’s body was discovered by a group of children in the town of Ingeniero Budge. According to Argentinian outlet Télam, he had been reported missing since July 18 and reportedly received messages threatening to cut out his eyes and chop off his hands in the week before his remains were found.
“I’m going to kill you, I’m going to do something worse to you,” a man said in a menacing voice message to Algaba before he disappeared. “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,” added the man, who was identified only by his surname, Iglesias.
Police are looking into the murder after the children made the gruesome discovery. Only Algaba’s arms and legs were initially found in the suitcase, but he was later identified by his fingerprints and a tattoo on his torso.
An autopsy shows that the businessman’s body was mutilated after being shot three times, and some parts of his body had clean amputations, suggesting the work of a professional.
Algaba made his riches through renting high-end vehicles and selling cryptocurrency, and he flaunted his opulent lifestyle to his 900,000+ Instagram followers.
He reportedly accrued “irrecoverable” debts with Argentina’s tax authority and encountered difficulties when a notorious local gang demanded $40,000 from him. According to local reports, Algaba also owed Iglesias’ son $70,000 that he wanted back.
Iglesias also left Algaba several voicemails, one of which lasted for a whole 20 minutes and in which he told the influencer that they “see each other face to face.”
“You betrayed me, and you caught me. I have a poison with you that I hate you,” Iglesias said in another message.
Algaba, who lived in Barcelona, Spain, had reportedly been staying in Argentina for a week prior to his murder. Police have so far arrested one suspect in connection with his death.
