True Crime Through Time

CAYETANO SANTOS GODINO

Cayetano Santos Godino (October 31st 1896 - November 15th 1944) was an Argentinian serial killer also known as "Petiso Orejudo" or the "Big-Eared midget". Cayetano terrified Buenos Airies as a child and teenager, during which time he was responsible for the murder of four children, the attempted murder of seven children, and the arson of seven buildings.

Cayetano Santos Godino was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to a large family. He was the last of 10 children born to his immigrant parents, his father, Fiore and his mother Lucia fled to Buenos Aires before his birth to escape poverty and to escape the tragedy of the loss of their first born sons death at 10 months old.

It's safe to say that Cayetano was not given the best chance from the outset, not only were both of his parents alcoholics but his father also contracted Syphillis before Cayetano was conceived leading to him having Syphilis related health issues all throughout his childhood. Some of the most major health issues Cayetano faced during his childhood was an intense battle with Enteritis, a nasty infection normally spread through contaminated food or water, or through poor hygiene and sanitation, that left him weak and on the brink of death several times. Alongside his parents alcoholism and his near constant health issues, he also had to deal with frequent physical abuse from his father, who treated his family like punching bags, especially Cayetano who was almost always weak due to his illnesses. When doctors examined Cayetano years later they discovered 27 scars on his head alone, reportedly caused by his father and an older brother. We know now the effects of brain trauma on personality especially when it happens at a young age so it seems likely that this damage didn't exactly help Cayetanos twisted mind.

When Cayetano started school at age 5 his unruly behaviour and complete lack of interest in his education led to him being expelled from many schools, six schools within as many years. Throughout all these different schools, not a single one was even able to hold his focus long enough to teach him how to read. This path lead to him wandering the streets, his twisted mind thinking up cruel and evil things to pass the time, and his low level of intelligent made it easy to be trusted by children years younger than him, and ignored by the adults that viewed him as an 'idiot'. Throughout this stage of his life he begins to toy with violence, and more tragically with life and death, finding pleasure in killing birds and cats in the neighbourhood, he also begins to discover his obsession with fire.

His true violent streak however is first brought to the publics attention when he is just 8 years old. On September 28th 1804 he gained the trust of Miguel de Pauli with the promise of sweets, Miguel, almost two at the time, trusted the older boy right away and followed him to a wasteland. Here, Cayetano throws the toddler into a pile of thorny branches and brambles, causing the child to cry out in pain. A policeman nearby heard the youngsters cries and made his way towards the sound, intervening before Cayetano could hurt little Miguel anymore. Unbelievably Cayetano received no punishment for his cruel actions, and is simply taken for a trip to the police station until his mother could pick him up.

A year later, when he was just 9, he led Ana Neri, 18 months old, into another wasteland in the same way and began to hit the young boy in the head with a rock that he found nearby. Once again the attack was heard and interrupted, and once again Cayetano got away without punishment. The police officer that had stopped the attack claimed that Cayetano was too young to face punishment and that the attack was nothing more than a disagreement between two young boys, letting Cayetano go.

On March 22nd 1906 a young girl went missing. Later Cayetano described taking the hand of a young girl matching her description and leading her to a wasteland. Once there he claimed he tried to strangle her, and when this didn't work he buried her alive in the ditch, covering the young girl with rubbish before walking away. By the time the parents heard what may have happened they had moved back to Italy and a house had been built on the supposed burial site, so we don't know for sure if this is true.