Volunteer Firefighter Found Dead After Disappearance in Brandsen

The body of Aimé Castillo, a 23-year-old volunteer firefighter, was found dead on Monday in a wooded area of Brandsen, Buenos Aires Province, after she went missing on Saturday. The discovery was made during a search operation involving sniffer dogs near the intersection of Fleming and Marconi streets, close to Provincial Route 215.

Castillo, who served at the San Vicente Volunteer Fire Department, had been reported missing by her family after she left her mother’s home on a bright orange bicycle. Her disappearance came just days after her boyfriend, Daniel Lencina, died by suicide on New Year’s Day. Authorities believe Castillo may have taken her own life, as she was reportedly struggling with depression following Lencina’s death.

“It’s a devastating blow for her family and for those who knew and worked alongside her,” said a spokesperson for the San Vicente Fire Department, where Castillo had been a dedicated volunteer. Her body was found alongside some of her belongings, though the bicycle she had been riding was not recovered at the scene.

Castillo was last seen alive around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday when her mother left for work. Upon returning home at 1:00 p.m., her mother noticed Castillo was missing and immediately filed a police report. Investigators later reviewed security footage from a neighbor’s camera, which showed Castillo leaving the area but did not capture her exact route.

Her sister, Micaela Castillo, told local media that Aimé had been deeply affected by her boyfriend’s death. “She wanted to see him one last time,” Micaela said, recounting how Aimé had visited Lencina’s body after being discharged from a brief hospital stay. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to confirm the cause of death, but preliminary evidence suggests suicide.

The tragic discovery has left the community in mourning. Castillo’s colleagues at the fire department described her as a committed and compassionate individual who will be deeply missed. The investigation into her death remains ongoing.