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Police are investigating after a 12-year-old boy was found dead with over 30 stab wounds, his genitals cut off and signs of attempted dismemberment on his body

The boy's mutilated corpse was found in the municipality of Recreo, in the northern Argentina province of Santa Fe the day after his disappearance was reported last Wednesday.

According to preliminary forensic reports, the boy, named locally as Diego Roman, had received multiple stab wounds.

Sources from the forensic team being led by Pascual Pimpinela said the boy's genitals had also been cut off, according to local media.

(Image: CEN)

Pimpinela told reporters: "I have done more than 3,000 autopsies in my career and I have never seen a case like this.

"In more than 20 years working in the field, I have not seen cases like this. For me, it is a unique case that deserves a complete scientific investigation."

The young student was last seen as he left his house to go to school.

His body was found the following day by the vice-president of the football club he played for.

Investigators believe the murder had been committed elsewhere before his body was dumped in a vacant lot nearby.

No arrests have yet been made by detectives.

However, the boy's mother, Maria, blamed her ex-boyfriend, who is the boy's father, for the crime.

(Image: CEN)

The couple's four children had moved in with their father and his new girlfriend five months ago.

Maria said: "I want the dad to pay, he is guilty, as is the stepmother."

The parents split up four years ago and Maria says she had no contact with the children for five months since they moved in with their dad

She said: "I have had no communication with them, he blocked me totally, he always threatened me not to approach them. I was afraid of the reaction of the father who had threatened them."

Julio Roman, the father, told local media: "How could I have done something like this to my son?"

The investigation is ongoing.