Ricardo Alberto Barreda was born on June 16, 1936, in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He grew up in a family that emphasized education and hard work. From a young age, Ricardo showed an interest in pursuing a career in dentistry. He dedicated years to his studies and eventually became a dentist.

His professional life began when he opened his dental practice in La Plata. As a dentist, he tried to build a reputation in his community. He was known for his work and aimed to provide good care to his patients. During his early career, Ricardo married Gladys Mac Donald, and together they had two daughters: Cecilia and Adriana. He also had a close relationship with his mother-in-law, Elena Arreche.

On November 15, 1992, Ricardo Barreda killed four members of his family in their home in La Plata, Argentina. He used a 16.5 gauge shotgun that had been a gift from his mother-in-law. The victims included his wife, Gladys, his daughters, Cecilia and Adriana, and his mother-in-law, Elena Arreche.

Barreda's day started normally. However, he became angry after an unpleasant interaction with his wife. He then grabbed his shotgun and shot Gladys in the chest while they were in the kitchen. After killing her, he shot his daughter Cecilia, who was nearby. As he reloaded the gun, his daughter Adriana came running down the stairs. He shot her in the head before she could reach the bottom step. Finally, he killed Elena, shooting her multiple times.

After the shootings, Barreda attempted to cover up the crimes. He collected the empty shells from the shotgun and staged the house to look like a robbery. He drove his car to a nearby park where he disposed of the shotgun and the shells. Later that evening, he went out with his girlfriend and returned home drunk. Around 10 PM, he called the police and claimed a robbery had taken place.

Eventually, Barreda confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment on August 17, 1995. After spending years in prison, he was granted parole on January 5, 2011, after a review of his time served. He then was placed under house arrest, where he lived with his girlfriend.