Viviana Vilte murdered in La Silleta, Salta: partner arrested for femicide

On the early morning of Friday, 55‑year‑old Viviana "Quica" Vilte was found dead in her home in La Silleta, a small town in Salta Province, Argentina. The victim suffered more than 40 stab wounds inflicted with a large machete during a violent dispute with her partner, José Luis G., after a gathering with friends that included music and alcohol. Her son called emergency services at 2:30 a.m., prompting police to arrive and discover the attacker covered in blood cradling the victim's body. José Luis G. was detained at the scene and later charged with triple‑qualified homicide for femicide, gender‑based violence and cruelty. The investigation is being led by prosecutor María Luján Sodero Calvet, with forensic teams from the Cuerpo de Investigaciones Fiscales and the Unidad de Graves Atentados contra las Personas conducting autopsy and evidence collection. The suspect remains in preventive detention while the case proceeds.

The brutal femicide has shocked the local community and drawn attention from provincial authorities, underscoring concerns about gender‑based violence in the region.