What happened
Nicole Saavedra, a young lesbian woman, disappeared in 2016 and was later found dead in the Valparaíso Region.
The investigation
Her family and activists criticized the pace and direction of the early investigation. Later forensic and investigative work focused on Víctor Pulgar.
What the courts or investigators concluded
Pulgar was convicted of kidnapping and murder and received a lengthy prison sentence.
Why the case remains significant
Saavedra’s case became important to Chilean LGBTQ organizations, which argued that prejudice and institutional indifference can shape both violence and the response to victims.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.