Antonio Pérez Coll spent time in prison for a crime a court later decided he did not commit. He was accused of killing his parents with a knife, and their bodies were found at their home in Sangonera on Pilar Day four years earlier. He was arrested by the Civil Guard and, in June 2022, appeared before the Murcia County Court.
He always proclaimed his innocence and received support from his attorney, Juan Jose Brown. At the first hearing, Brown compared his case to the Rocío Wanninkhof affair, noting that wrongful accusations can devastate lives and that justice sometimes takes time to reveal the truth. The lawyer spoke of the pain and confusion that follows a long legal fight when innocence is proven only after years of doubt.
Investigators, forensic experts, and witnesses gathered at the Palace of Justice, but the evidence did not point to Pérez Coll as responsible for the deaths. The jury ultimately acquitted him. The verdict offered relief but also left lingering questions and a sense of a life interrupted by a cloud of suspicion.
Immediately after his release, Pérez Coll recalled sitting by the door for hours, waiting for someone to pick him up and trying to grasp what the future would hold. His personal life had already suffered; his marriage had ended during the ordeal. He spoke with La Opinión about the moment he stepped back into the world, still learning how to navigate the new reality. A year after the acquittal, he continued to rebuild his life, moving forward with the support of friends and colleagues from the Catalonian community as he resumed his work within the transportation sector.
“Have faith, because God always opens doors when they are truly needed.”
He described starting work again on November 30, the day after his birthday, treating it as an anniversary gift and a sign that resilience can pay off, even after immense hardship.
Abuses and embargoes
Yet the path to normalcy has been paved with ongoing challenges. Pérez Coll spoke of discrimination and harassment faced after his release, particularly from individuals who fear the stigma attached to his past. He described the difficulties of reentering the labor market as someone who has spent time in prison, emphasizing that the road back to steady employment is often longer for those with a criminal record, regardless of guilt or innocence.
He noted that unemployment benefits were insufficient to cover basic needs and he highlighted barriers that hampered his financial recovery. He recalled periods when his bank account was undermined by administrative actions, which complicated his efforts to get back on his feet and stay current with car taxes and other obligations.
Despite these hurdles, he remained determined to work in transportation, the field he knew well. He described stepping through a sequence of job applications, sometimes facing responses that felt unfair or overly intrusive, but he did not let disappointment derail his ambitions. He found that some employers valued experience, reliability, and the ability to perform the work safely more than any past misjudgments.
In the end, he found a position where his experience and skills were recognized, a place where he could contribute without having to relive his past with every interview. This progress mattered not only for financial stability but also for restoring a sense of dignity and purpose.
Apartment search and housing struggles
Another major chapter involved finding a stable home. After securing work, Pérez Coll began looking for a place near his new job in Molina de Segura. The search was fraught with uncertainty and disappointment, including a troubling incident where a landlord altered the door lock of a prospective apartment and turned him away. The experience underscored the vulnerability many people feel when starting over, especially those with difficult histories.
He eventually met someone who understood his situation and offered support. Although the first attempt did not go as hoped, a subsequent opportunity emerged. Within weeks, he found a room close to his workplace and was able to establish a foothold that reduced daily strain and allowed him to focus on rebuilding his life.
Pérez Coll reflected on the people who stood by him and the small acts of kindness that preserved his dignity during a very trying period. He recalled a neighbor from Tarrasa who offered practical help and treated him with respect, proving that personal integrity can outlast the shadow of a difficult past. He emphasized that the past can be overcome with patience, effort, and the support of trustworthy friends.
Pérez Coll believed that his career as a driver would provide a stable future and a chance to prove his value to prospective employers. He continued to work with colleagues who supported him financially and professionally, a reminder that teamwork and community matter greatly when rebuilding a life after a prolonged crisis.
When asked about the hardest part after leaving prison, he described the loneliness, the sense of being unmoored, and the struggle to find appropriate clothes and routines. The summer after release was tough, with humanitarian organizations offering limited assistance and many people taking vacations, which limited immediate opportunities. He admitted that the experience left him wary and cautious, yet determined not to let fear define his next steps. He also acknowledged a lingering sense of not fully belonging in his own country, while insisting that his focus remains on moving forward responsibly and with integrity.
“Another Hangs Herself”
Pérez Coll sees himself as a fighter, someone who refuses to surrender to the weight of his past. He believes that if what happened to him should ever happen to someone else, it would be a tragedy that demands collective action and empathy. He credits his coworkers with providing practical guidance and financial support at times, describing them as a lifeline in the midst of ongoing uncertainty.
The legal episode surrounding his parents’ deaths remains part of his history, but the acquittal shifted the narrative from guilt to the search for truth and healing. He now looks toward the future with cautious optimism, seeking a relationship built on honesty and shared values, someone who can see beyond his past and recognize the person he is becoming. He has learned to speak openly about his experiences, hoping to help others facing similar challenges.
To those facing comparable circumstances, Pérez Coll offers a message of resilience, urging people to fight against negativity, stay patient, and maintain faith. He believes that compassion and perseverance can open doors when they are truly needed, and that hope remains a powerful catalyst for rebuilding a life after adversity.