Disappearance of Cecilia Strzyzowski

Enforced disappearance in Chaco, Argentina

Cecilia Marlene Strzyzowski is a 28-year-old woman from Resistencia, Argentina who was last seen on June 1, 2023 leaving her aunt's house. She was with her partner, César Sena, who is defendant in the case of her disappearance. Also involved are César's parents, Emerenciano Sena and Marcela Acuña. They are social leaders who have strong political ties to Chaco Province Governor Jorge Capitanich. The prosecutor in charge of the case has said that the act is an alleged homicide. The case has generated attention and outrage at the local and national level.

Disappearance of Cecilia Strzyzowski
Date1 June, 2023
LocationResistencia, Chaco Province, Argentina
TypeDisappearance
TargetCecilia Strzyzowski
Missing1 (Cecilia Strzyzowski)
Arrests
  • César Sena
  • Emerenciano Sena
  • Marcela Acuña
SuspectsCésar Sena, Emerenciano Sena, Marcela Acuña, Gustavo Obregón, Fabiana Gonzáles and Gustavo Melgarejo
Charges
  • Marcela Acuña and Emerenciano Sena: homicide aggravated by the premeditated cooperation of two or more people as co-perpetrators.
  • Gustavo Melgarejo and Griselda Reinoso: aggravated concealment as secondary participant.
  • Gustavo Obregón: homicide aggravated by the premeditated contest of two or more people as a secondary participant.-->
Cecilia Marlene Strzyzowski
Born1995
Disappeared1 June 2023 (Presumed dead)
Resistencia, Chaco
StatusMissing for 1 year, 6 months and 2 days
NationalityArgentinean
Parent
  • Gloria Romero (mother)

The disappearance report was filed on June 5 by Gloria Romero, Cecilia's mother. According to security cameras, Cecilia was seen entering Sena's house on June 2, but there is no record of his departure. In addition, the videos show Obregón leaving the home with black bags, which are presumed to be the body of the young woman. Later, Emerenciano and Acuña get into the vehicle and leave the house.

On June 18, the primary elections of the 2023 Chaco Provincial Elections were held, and the media agreed that the case had an influence on the results, which resulted in a victory for the opposition to the government.

Background

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Cecilia Strzyzowski worked as an administrative employee at the Emerenciano Sena health center and lived with her partner, César Sena, 19, at the house of Cecilia's aunt, Mercedes. According to the testimony of Gloria Romero, Cecilia's mother and complainant in the case of her disappearance, the relationship between Cecilia and César began in December 2021 through Tinder. However, problems arose in the relationship, especially due to the resistance of César's mother towards their union. In addition, possible control by César over Cecilia's movements through WhatsApp and the possession of weapons by César, who claims to be politically persecuted, has been mentioned.

On September 16, 2022, Cecilia and César were married, but four days later they began divorce proceedings, allegedly influenced by César's mother who did not support the relationship. The young couple handed out invitation cards for a wedding party to be held on December 23, however the divorce decree came out two days before and the celebration was postponed indefinitely.

Cecilia's mother was unaware of this divorce at the time of her disappearance. The affective relationship between Cecilia and César continued and they were seen together regularly. Cecilia's mother stated that for her, César was an excellent partner and expressed surprise at the version of a friend of Cecilia's, who alleged that on May 3, César would have physically assaulted Cecilia. According to this same statement, Sena was medicated, he would have hit his own mother at one point, and he was manipulating Cecilia.

Disappearance

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On June 1, 2023, Cecilia had a video call with her mother Gloria Romero and told her that she would have a trip to Ushuaia with her partner, César Sena; the reason was a job opportunity. That same afternoon Cecilia Strzyzowski was seen leaving her aunt's house in Resistencia with César Sena.

At that time, he was wearing light gray sweatpants, a dark gray jacket, and gray sneakers with pink details in turn, Sena carried a partially empty red backpack. According to a family member of Cecilia's, her partner was nervous at that moment and when questioned about the scant luggage, he replied that he would "buy the clothes in Buenos Aires" It should be noted that in Resistencia the average temperature in June is 15 °C and in Ushuaia 2 °C. According to the mother, on Friday the 2nd they should take a flight to Buenos Aires from Corrientes.