Investigation in Arganda del Rey: Questions into the care of a elderly woman
An investigation judge in Arganda del Rey plans to question a caregiver who was closely involved with a long‑term patient, a decision that centers on a troubling sequence of events surrounding the death of an elderly woman. The caregiver had cared for the woman at the couple’s home in Rivas Vaciamadrid, where she lived until her death on 28 June 2021. The inquiry is examining whether neglect or harm occurred during the final months of the woman’s life, and what role the caregiver may have played in those events.
In mid‑June, the person under investigation appeared before the magistrate. He described a rapid decline in the woman’s health and recounted her arrival in Madrid in March 2021. His account has raised questions because authorities observed inconsistencies that could shift his status from witness to investigated party. The court is pursuing further verification of the details surrounding her health and the care she received during that period.
Judge Elena Sanz Collado is overseeing the case, which also involves the actor and wife Arantxa Palomino, who has been named in connection with the alleged circumstances surrounding the old woman’s death. The autopsy report has become a key element in the proceedings, noting poisoning from heavy metals, including cadmium and manganese, as a contributing factor. The cause of death is described as poisoning diluted by heavy metals, a finding that has intensified the scrutiny of the caregiving arrangement and the setting in which the woman lived.
Records indicate that conflicts emerged around the time of the investigation and the woman’s desire to live in Madrid, a move that appears to have been a turning point in the case. Family and friends have stated to Civil Guard investigators that the woman did not want to leave the Asturias region, where she had previously lived in Grado and even tended a small garden. The conflicting statements have complicated the narrative around the caregiver’s role and the decisions that led to Madrid becoming the woman’s last residence.
The caregiver is a central figure in the inquiry because he administered food and medications to the elderly woman. The autopsy notes that the deceased suffered from an aqueous poisoning by heavy metals and carried four types of psychoactive drugs in her blood. This combination has spawned questions about daily care routines and whether the patient received the essentials needed for daily hygiene and dignity in her final months.
On 14 July, the manager of the care company that attended to María Isabel described potential neglect in the elderly woman’s daily life, pointing to the absence of basic items such as a toothbrush. The testimony collected from neighbors further supports concerns: several neighbors told the Civil Guard that they frequently saw the woman cleaning herself in the garage bathroom, a detail that raises concerns about her living conditions and the level of care she received at home.
Additionally, an audio transcript from June 6, 2021, contained within the hearing, reveals that the woman voiced complaints about perceived negligence by her nephew when she experienced an infestation of lice. This audio record contributes to a broader picture of the environment surrounding her final months and the communications among family members and caregivers.
[Citation: Civil Guard records, autopsy report, and statements from neighbors and company manager are being used to piece together the sequence of events. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities assess the credibility of the various testimonies and the medical findings.]