After killing of Stowers researchers, KC police ask area residents for video footage

Police in Kansas City are asking members of the public to send surveillance video footage to detectives investigating the double homicide of two Stowers Institute researchers.

Camila Behrensen, 24, of Buenos Aires, and Pablo Guzmán Palma, 25, of Santiago, Chile, were found dead Saturday following a fire in the 4100 block of Oak Street.

Homeowners or tenants in the area of 41st to 43rd streets, from McGee to Gillham, with video surveillance cameras are asked to contact Kansas City police detectives. Police are interested in footage from between 10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, to 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.

Both victims were “suffering from apparent trauma” when firefighters found them, Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman with the KCPD, said on Saturday. They were both declared dead at the scene.

Behrensen and Guzmán Palma were predoctoral researchers with the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, which has a graduate education program and carries out biomedical research.

The two were members of Stowers’ 2020 predoctoral research class, according to a statement provided by the institute.

Behrensen earned a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology in 2020 from the University Argentina de la Empresa and studied metabolic changes in fruit flies for two years. She was also published in Scientific Reports.

Guzmán Palma earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Pontifical Catholic University in Chile, according to Stowers. He previously conducted research on spinal cord regeneration.

Kansas City police detectives can be contacted at 816-234-5330 or 816-234-5043.