Juan Miguel Islanda, a businessman from Manzanares in Ciudad Real, disappeared on July 22, 2022. The Civil Guard later recovered his body from a well on a nearby farm on March 14. Two men were imprisoned on suspicion of murder: Antonio Caba, described as an intermediary in farm sales, and Gaspar Rivera, a retired gambler. Investigators continue to determine how much Francisco Isla, the victim’s brother, was involved or how much he may have been trying to shield the crime from broader scrutiny.
On the day after the alleged murder, a pistol that belonged to Francisco Isla surfaced. It had been hidden for several months until March 27. Prensa Ibérica, via the investigation and news program CASO ABIERTO, reported this to the Civil Guard and to Isla’s family. Isla later handed over the weapon, stating that roughly two to three weeks before his brother disappeared, he discussed the possibility of giving him a gun with Antonio Caba, even though no request had been made for one.
According to the brother of the victim, the gun was left in a warehouse in Villarta de San Juan after it was taken. It was placed in a plastic bag, tucked away, and covered with something, a detail that remains puzzling. Francisco Isla has not offered a clear reason for admitting possession of a firearm. He has said that prior to his confession he did not suspect the weapon was connected to the crime. Gaspar Rivera, one of the two charged, claimed that Caba told him the killing weapon did not belong to him and suggested there might be more to uncover.
Facing the legacy
Those accused of killing Juan Miguel Islanda and his brother Antonio Caba were described by the Civil Guard as maintaining a troubling rhythm in their conversations found in the case summary. Even as the search for the missing Juan Miguel continued, Francisco Isla and the alleged murderer exchanged messages and discussions that hinted at ongoing tension.
-Rude: The target person is believed to be in Alicante, and there is a growing certainty that he is involved or has taken actions that require close scrutiny.
-Francisco: If I have said I would intervene, perhaps the issue would resolve itself, or perhaps not.
When the body had not yet been located, the victim’s brother remarked that money had been taken and that further disrespectful language was used about the situation.
According to Civil Guard reports, Francisco Isla and his brother Juan Miguel had conflicts dating back to the death of their parents and the subsequent division of the estate in 2010. The farm, valued at over a million euros, became a focal point of tension after Juan Miguel sold it before his disappearance. Investigators note frequent phone communications between Caba and Francisco Isla, suggesting they stayed regularly updated on the investigation’s progress.
“Took the rooms”
In another exchange, Francisco Isla, addressing Caba, suggests a growing certainty that Juan Miguel had been targeted and that his fate might have included coercive or violent acts. The response from Caba reflects uncertainty about what might be known or what could be discovered later.
In a subsequent August 24 phone call, the accused discusses the crime and the disposal of Juan Miguel’s body, pressing for more information.
– We don’t know anything? I did not ask you, but when you did not tell me, I did not ask you again.
– Francisco: What will we know? That man will be involved somewhere.
– Rude: That is what he gave me, that is what I was told, and it is becoming clearer now that more details may emerge.
“Did your brother kill him?”
As time passed without news about Juan Miguel Islanda, another friend of Antonio Caba, Pepe, contacted him on September 27 and spoke with curiosity about possible ties to the crime and to Francisco Isla. The tone suggested concern and suspicion about what was known, and what might still be hidden.
– Pepe: It seems unlikely that the brother could be the one behind this.
– Rude: You asked about these things before; do not confuse the issue now.
– Pepe: No need to worry, there is no immediate danger.
– Rude: It’s best not to guess; there are people listening, and the truth can be stubborn.