Where Are Fernando Báez Sosa’s Killers Now? Five Years After the Fatal Less‑Than‑Minute Beating

Where Are Fernando Báez Sosa’s Killers Now?

Fernando Báez Sosa, an 18‑year‑old law student from Buenos Aires, was fatally beaten outside the Le Brique nightclub in Villa Gesell in January 2020. The violent assault, which witnesses say lasted under a minute, was carried out by members of a group of young rugby players and was captured on video that quickly circulated online. Fernando died of severe head trauma and internal injuries.

What happened that night

Fernando and friends were on holiday in Villa Gesell when a brief verbal dispute with a group of rugby players from Zárate escalated. Although the rugby players were removed from the club, a confrontation resumed outside the venue around 4:45 a.m. Prosecutors and eyewitnesses say eight men surrounded and repeatedly struck Fernando while others prevented his friends from intervening. Multiple bystanders and at least one participant recorded the attack.

Injuries and immediate response

Emergency responders performed CPR at the scene and transported Fernando to a nearby hospital, but he did not survive. Medical examiners and the prosecution concluded his death resulted from severe head trauma and related internal injuries; the indictment described repeated kicks to his head and face while he was on the ground.

Investigation, trial and verdict

Authorities detained 11 young men soon after the attack, aided by video footage and eyewitness testimony. After a yearlong investigation, prosecutors charged eight men with aggravated homicide. In February 2023, a court found all eight guilty. Five — Máximo Pablo Thomsen, Ciro Pertossi, Luciano Pertossi, Matías Franco Benicelli and Enzo Comelli — were convicted as co‑perpetrators and received life sentences. Three — Lucas Pertossi, Blas Cinalli and Ayrton Viollaz — were deemed secondary participants and were each sentenced to 15 years. Three other men present that night (Juan Pedro Guarino, Alejo Milanesi and Tomás Collazo) were investigated but not charged due to insufficient evidence.

Where they are now

As of November 2025, all eight convicted men are serving their sentences in Argentine prisons. The case—widely known in Argentina as the crime of Villa Gesell—remains a focal point for national conversation about youth violence, accountability and possible racial motivation in attacks. Video and audio evidence played a central role in securing convictions.

Family reaction and public response

“Fernando is the only victim here,” Fernando’s mother, Graciela Sosa, said in 2023. “They killed him in the worst way possible, kicking him, while he was begging for them to stop.”

Fernando’s father, Silvino Báez, has said on social media that he believes the attack had racist overtones, noting differences in appearance between Fernando and some attackers. The family’s lawyer, Fernando Burlando, has expressed frustration that three defendants received shorter sentences than the five who were given life terms, calling the overall outcome “contemplative justice.”

Documentary and continued attention

The case was the subject of the Netflix documentary series 50 Seconds: The Fernando Báez Sosa Case, which features interviews with Fernando’s family, investigators and people connected to the defendants. The series renewed international attention on the facts, the legal process and wider societal questions raised by the killing.

Names and sentences (convicted):

• Co‑perpetrators (life sentences): Máximo Pablo Thomsen, Ciro Pertossi, Luciano Pertossi, Matías Franco Benicelli, Enzo Comelli.
• Secondary participants (15 years each): Lucas Pertossi, Blas Cinalli, Ayrton Viollaz.

Note: This account has been edited for clarity and accuracy. Dates and legal outcomes reflect court rulings through November 2025.