Five arrested in a kidnapping and murder case that has jolted Argentina

While the death of an 11-year-old girl, whose body was found naked inside a garbage bag in a Buenos Aires suburb, continues to generate outrage across Argentina, police late Monday announced the arrest of five people in connection with the crime.

Candela Sol Rodríguez captured the attention of all Argentineans, including that of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, when her family went to the media to report her missing on August 22. It became a top story in the media and on social networking sites where users were asked for their help in finding the girl. Argentinean celebrities such as renowned actor Ricardo Darín made public appeals to her kidnappers to return her safely.

Following the girl's disappearance, Candela's aunt, Silvia Rodríguez, said she received a phone call from a man who threatened to kill her niece if "they didn't return the money."

"Give us our money back or I will kill her," he threatened. "Tell that bastard to give me my money back," he said.

Candela's father, Alfredo Rodríguez, is serving a three-year prison sentence for belonging to a hijacking gang and authorities are investigating retaliation as a motive.

Police searched a house in the Buenos Aires town of Hurlingham, where Candela's family lives, after neighbors reported suspicious movements. But they found no clues. However, on Wednesday, her body turned up in a vacant building lot. It was found by person who was looking for cardboard to recycle.

"My God, they killed my daughter!" Candela's mother, Carola Labrador, shouted at the scene after identifying the body.

Candela was found naked and her body showed signs of torture. She had been burned in several areas and her neck had been broken after being repeatedly hit.

On Monday night, police arrested five people at a house near where Candela's body was found. Authorities believe that the girl was held at the home during her time in captivity. One of those detained, Gladys Cabrera, the owner of the home, was said to have brought food to Candela. Clarín , the Buenos Aires daily, reported Tuesday that investigators found DNA samples inside the house that matched those of Candela's.

Investigators have also been focusing on whether Labrador and other family members have been involved with drug traffickers. Clarín reported Sunday that one of the girl's aunts by marriage, María Alejandra Romagnoli, was kidnapped and held for ransom by drug traffickers three months ago.

Three days after Candela's disappearance, President Fernández de Kirchner met with Labrador at the Casa Rosada presidential palace. But after the body was found and theories over murder motives began to flourish, the president has not made any public comments concerning the crime.

Federico Nieva Woodgate, Morón district attorney, said that Candela Rodriguez's relatives could have kept vital information hidden because they played down blackmail calls received last week.

The family has also come under fire from the media for hiding the fact that Candela's father is serving a prison term.

Speaking to capital city daily, Perfil , Silvia Rodríguez denied that the family was hiding information. "From the first moment, we told police about my brother's situation and his past record. We didn't tell the media to avoid them focusing exclusively on that. We didn't hide anything," she said.

Carlos Telleldin, lawyer for Candela's father, also told Perfil that his client "has no idea" about the motives behind his daughter's murder. Denying that Antonio Rodríguez, who has been in jail for the past 14 months, has turned into a police snitch, he described his client as "a small time bandit" who was arrested for trying to hijack a truck while pretending he was armed.