Juan Manuel Reverter, wanted by Mexican authorities on suspicion of murder, was arrested in Oregon after allegedly overstaying a U.S. visa. His arrest relates to the Feb. 18, 2023 death of Argentine model Agostina Jalabert in Playa del Carmen, which prosecutors later determined had been staged to resemble a suicide. An autopsy reportedly found evidence of beating, sexual assault and suffocation; Reverter is currently in ICE custody awaiting removal proceedings.
Argentine Model’s Boyfriend Arrested in Oregon After Her 2023 Death Was Ruled a Homicide
Juan Manuel Reverter (left); and Agostina Jalabert.Credit: Department of Homeland Security; Family Handout
An Argentine man wanted in Mexico on suspicion of murder was arrested in Oregon after allegedly overstaying a U.S. visa, authorities and news outlets report. The case centers on the February 2023 death of model Agostina Jalabert, whose body was later determined by Mexican prosecutors to have been staged to appear as a suicide.
Who Was Found Dead
Agostina Jalabert, 31, was discovered on Feb. 18, 2023, inside a residence in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, according to reports from Mexican and international media. Her sister, Candela Jalabert, found the body at the home the siblings shared with Agostina's then-boyfriend, Juan Manuel Reverter.
Autopsy and Investigation
Agostina Jalabert.Credit: Family Handout
Mexican authorities, citing an autopsy and investigative findings reported by outlets including El Universal and Clarín, said Jalabert had been beaten, subjected to non-consensual sexual acts and tortured. Prosecutors concluded she had been suffocated and that her body was arranged to resemble a suicide, prompting investigators to treat the death as a homicide.
Arrest in the United States
Federal immigration officers detained Reverter on Thursday, July 23, in Oregon, the Department of Homeland Security told PEOPLE. U.S. broadcasts KOIN and FOX12 reported the arrest location in Oregon. DHS said Reverter entered the United States in August 2024 on a visa that required departure after six months and that he is now in ICE custody awaiting removal proceedings.
U.S. officials also confirmed to PEOPLE that Reverter is the subject of an arrest warrant from Mexican authorities on suspicion of murder.
Agostina Jalabert.Credit: Family Handout
Family Reaction
"She wanted to travel and see the world," Candela told PEOPLE, remembering her sister as sensitive, warm and independent. When she learned of the arrest, she said it brought a mixture of relief and renewed sadness: "It was exciting, I also felt sad again, because I miss her, but I know that finally she was also able to find peace just like us."
Legal Status and Next Steps
Reverter is in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. If Mexican authorities seek extradition, that process would involve coordination between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement and judicial authorities.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, resources are available. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233 or at thehotline.org. Calls are confidential, toll-free and available 24/7 in many languages.
Sources: Reporting from PEOPLE, El Universal, Clarín, La Jornada, KOIN and FOX 12.
Help us improve.
