Pepa Almendra Vergara di Benedetto was 18 years old, she was Argentine and had been born in Córdoba. For several years she had lived in Uruguay, where she resided with part of her family. Her name became the center of an intense search that began on Monday and ended with the worst outcome: she was found dead in the area of Stop 5 at Playa Mansa, in Punta del Este.
The young woman was native to San Javier, in the Traslasierra valley, Córdoba, where she had spent part of her life. According to what one of her aunts said after the news became known, Pepa was a “good and simple girl,” a description that reflects the affection with which she was remembered by those around her.
Up to now, public details about her private life are few. It is known that several years ago she had settled in Uruguay and was living in Maldonado.
The Disappearance of Pepa Almendra
The family of the young woman reported her disappearance during the afternoon of Monday, July 27, after she left her home in Maldonado. According to the information released during the search, she had set out with a library as her destination.
The following hours were marked by an intense operation to try and locate her. Family members, friends and close ones shared her image and asked for cooperation to locate her.
On Tuesday, investigators managed to establish a lead that guided the search: Pepa had taken a bus from Maldonado to Punta del Este.
From the security cameras of private buildings in the area, investigators were able to reconstruct part of her movements and determine that she had been near Stop 5 at Playa Mansa.
The Discovery at Playa Mansa
The search concluded on Wednesday night when Pepa’s father and others involved in the operation noticed a bundle among the bushes in the Stop 5 area.
They alerted the Police and the officers approached the scene. Finally, it was confirmed that the body found belonged to the young woman who had been missing since Monday.
Uruguayan authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Some media outlets noted that one of the main hypotheses points to suicide, although the investigation remains open and the authorities must determine what happened.
Therefore, at the moment there is no cause of death that can be considered definitively established.
The Family’s Grief
Following the news of the outcome, Pepa’s family expressed their gratitude to all those who assisted during the hours of the search.
They also asked for help to cover the funeral expenses, as the family could not bear the costs of the farewell on their own.
“With deep sorrow for the sad outcome and immense gratitude for all the support from society, friends and those close to us, we ask for your collaboration to cover the necessary expenses to bid farewell to our beloved Almendra,” they stated.
In the same message they explained that her father and family members are workers and that they could not cope with the situation alone.
The death of Pepa Almendra Vergara caused shock both in Córdoba, where she was born and spent part of her life, and in Uruguay, the country where she had been living for several years. At 18 years old, her life was marked by an ending that is still being investigated by the authorities.
