What happened
Dentist Ricardo Barreda killed his wife, two daughters and mother-in-law at the family home in La Plata in 1992.
The investigation
Investigators initially considered an outside attack, but inconsistencies and physical evidence led them back to Barreda, who admitted responsibility.
What the courts or investigators concluded
He was convicted of four murders and sentenced to life imprisonment, later receiving forms of conditional release before his death.
Why the case remains significant
The case remains widely discussed in Argentina because some public reactions attempted to trivialize or excuse domestic violence, prompting criticism from advocates and victims’ groups.
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.