Natalie Velasco was killed on May 2, 2001 in the Arrabal district of Zaragoza. He was just 21 years old. At the time, sexist crimes were classified as crimes of passion, and the law did not aggravate punishment based on gender. The killer, her former partner José Peñuela, exploited this loophole and received a prison sentence for strangling her and desecrating her corpse after raping her. He expressed remorse and even promised to attempt suicide after serving his term, but he died of an overdose seven and a half years into the sentence.
The Homicide Squad of the Aragon Police Department did not have to search far for the perpetrator. The young man known as El Choles came to the police station to confess his actions. This admission helped soften the initial sentence demanded by the victim’s family, who had been unaware of Natalie’s death for some time and had continued to perceive her killer through the lens of fear and manipulation. Friends described Peñuela as aggressive, and neighbors recalled that she had grown increasingly afraid. He even supplied a cell phone so he could summon help when needed.
“I asked him to make it clear whether we would continue together or not,” the killer stated in court.
The crime unfolded at dawn after the suspect went to Nathalie’s location outside the popular bar El Tabernillas, the place where she worked. In court, she explained, “I asked for a definitive answer about our future. I was confused and humiliated by what he said in front of his friends.” Natalie had told him she would be out with friends and would not be home late, and when he waited and became angry, the argument moved from the street to the interior of 15 Ricardo del Arco street.
There came a moment when she said she no longer loved him, and violence erupted. He claimed to lose control, initially trying to strike with his hands, but the struggle intensified until he grabbed a lamp from the nightstand to use as a weapon. He then used a cable to finish the act and, to ensure she could not resist, covered her face with a pillow.
For coffee and bread
In a disturbing turn after the murder, Peñuela insulted and raped Natalie, who was supposed to be alive and present. He remained in the house for hours, went to the bar where Natalie worked, played a slot machine, won a prize, and returned to buy bread before heading to his parents’ home and finally turning himself in at the police station.
Detailing the sequence of events — from the initial attempts with his hands to the use of the cable and the pillow — the Aragon Supreme Court of Justice later noted the prosecution’s argument. The defense successfully challenged parts of the case on appeal, and the court reduced the sentence, despite the brutal nature of the assault and the violence inflicted on Natalie.
Imitating the Tyrant of Corinth
During the investigation, Judge Natividad Rapún oversaw the inquiry into Peñuela’s mental state. Six forensic psychologists examined him and reported multiple personality traits, including narcissistic tendencies and pathological dependence on his ex-girlfriend. They described a person whose primary concern was himself, without regard for others’ suffering, suggesting that emotional dependence could be linked to the crime. They noted that losing Natalie precipitated a sense of hopelessness about the future.
Experts evaluating Peñuela concluded that “If we accept the idea that the accused was not the aggressor, we are dealing with a born killer.”
There was debate about his culpability. Four experts conceded that his emotional state might have diminished his will to act, while two maintained that his capacity to choose remained intact. The defense argued that if the accused was not the aggressor, one must consider whether he could be viewed as a born killer. The discussion reflected the complexities of attributing responsibility in cases of severe mental distress. In the prosecutor’s view, primer examples of ritualized violence, such as desecration of corpses, have occurred throughout history, and the case drew on such parallels while asking the jury to weigh intent and control of actions.
In explaining the severity of the crime, the prosecutor cited historical analogies to illustrate the enduring tension between intellect and brutality. The discussion also highlighted Peñuela’s gambling habit, which had led to financial losses and contributed to the breakdown of the relationship in 1999, marking the end of a partnership that began as friendship and later became cohabitation.
Died in prison
“I don’t care if I receive six years, sixteen, or twenty-four. I want to pay for the evil I have done and take my own life while serving the sentence.” Those were among Peñuela’s final statements before the verdict. He died before his sentence concluded. He had undergone psychological treatment since entering prison and remained under continual medical supervision, but he did not finish the term. He had worked in the prison bakery and found some joy in small promotions, according to family members who described him as puzzled by the abrupt end to his life and the ongoing confusion surrounding Natalie’s death. The story reflects a tragic arc of violence, remorse, and the long shadows left behind by such crimes.