Isabel Marcos disclosed the location of the crime after more than three days of questioning. In a quiet moment, she told the civil guards that Vanessa Lorente, a 22-year-old friend, had died and that her body was buried at her parents’ house. She indicated she had been with Vanessa since August 16, 2002, and that the confession came after her arrest on September 20, 2002: a hole was dug, and the body lay beneath.
The Civil Guard followed the clue to a property in Queixeiro, in the Ponte de Pedra neighborhood of Monfero, La Coruña. The body of Vanessa was found buried about a meter beneath the ground on the family farm. In Monfero, a town with around 2,500 residents at the time, the suspect faced broad public scrutiny. Isabel, the daughter of a mason named José Carlos, was accused not only of taking Vanessa’s life but also of abducting Vanessa’s baby and presenting a false identity.
Isabel Marcos later entered Teixeiro prison. Her conduct there was described as orderly, and media reports indicated she did not draw particular attention beyond a separate episode involving an affair with another inmate and the birth of a child while incarcerated.
That relationship ended, and Isabel began another association with another prisoner. Convicted of minor offenses, she did not return to Texeiro after a prison leave. Her life in earlier years included periods of release and confinement, with time spent at the Center for Social Cohesion and weekend releases. She had completed much of the sentence, and locals in Monfero recalled the shock that settled over the town at the news of the events from late September 2002.
21 years ago
Neighbors described Isabel Marcos as aloof, quiet, and not very sociable. Few knew her well enough to anticipate the severity of her actions. The coroner would later assess her as showing signs of isolation, depression, and schizoid tendencies. What emerged was a plan that involved faking pregnancy, harming a friend, concealing the body, and misappropriating the child.
Motivated by jealousy, obsession, and anger, Isabel manipulated circumstances to claim the infant as her own. For a month she walked with the child, presenting the family a false narrative. She also altered the name of her younger son, changing him from Daniel to José Andrés.
One photo circulated among acquaintances showed Isabel with the infant Daniel. The family context featured in the story included episodes of misrepresentation and deception around the child.
“I’m expecting a baby too” became a recurring claim used to align events with Vanessa’s expected birth.
“I’m expecting a baby too”
According to the timeline, the plan began earlier in 2002, with social and romantic entanglements in Monfero and nearby towns. Vanessa, a 22-year-old from Cartagena, had faced a breakup after starting anew with a partner, while Isabel navigated a complicated personal life involving several relationships. Vanessa’s pregnancy intensified the dynamics, and Isabel’s response was to press forward with a controversial scheme.
For months there was a carefully maintained illusion involving the baby and the circle of close friends. The situation deteriorated as Vanessa faced harassment and financial difficulties, and her pregnancy progressed into April of the following year. The newborn found temporary refuge with friends, while Isabel’s own pregnancy scenario persisted as part of the broader deception. The baby was designated José Andrés in the constructed narrative.
lost mother and baby
The alarm sounded on August 16 when a friend reported Vanessa missing. Her belongings, including the baby, remained at her home. The civil guards launched an investigation that quickly drew public attention. Vanessa’s last known movements were traced to a cafeteria meeting with a friend, and Isabel was observed visiting the barracks to cooperate with inquiries. Initial theories suggested either a voluntary departure or a violent crime associated with past reports of mistreatment toward Vanessa.
Over the next weeks, investigators focused on the suspect, who avoided immediate suspicion and portrayed herself as close to the events. The eventual confrontation with authorities led to a confession regarding the infant and the murder.
Evidence pointed to a sequence in which Isabel met Vanessa for coffee, then joined her at a family home to collect belongings. During the journey, the plan escalated to the fatal act.
A gas station, juice and a blow to the head
In the official account, the driving route from Monfero toward the family home included a stop at a local gas station. Vanessa was given a juice, not as a kind gesture but as a component of the plan. Prior to the act, narcotic tablets were crushed and prepared with help from a family member. The substances were intended to incapacitate Vanessa, enabling the rest of the crime to unfold.
Further evidence indicated the moment of death: a blunt impact to the head, sudden and fatal. Isabel then moved the scene to the family home where she kept the body and the baby, working to sustain the fabrication of a normal life for the boy while the investigation continued.
Eventually, the couple and relatives who supported the deception faced legal consequences. The intent to present a happy family unit, with a child named José Andrés, collapsed under judicial scrutiny.
Isabel Marcos faced a lengthy prison term for murder, illegal detention, and the crime of simulating birth. The legal proceedings also addressed the roles of her mother, José Carlos Marcos, and Ángel González, who were connected to the case through the supply of materials and participation in the cover story. A succession of appeals and verdicts led to varied outcomes, with some relatives receiving years in prison and others largely acquitted on certain charges.
In the end, the life of the young Daniel was separated from the grim events; he was placed in the custody of his biological father, while Isabel’s involvement was confirmed in court. The case remained a stark reminder of how deception and manipulation can devastate families and communities.