Juana Canal Case: A Two-Decade Quest for Truth

He killed her in a single strike, dismembered the body, packed the pieces into two suitcases, and buried the remains in Ávila. For nearly two decades, Jesús Pradales remained silent. February 23, 2003, marked a turning point when Juana Canal’s case resurfaced. He later admitted involvement in the crime during questioning, insisting that the act of killing was not intentional.

The State Court rejected a defense request to reform the case against Jesús Pradales, who faced charges of dismembering and concealing Juana Canal’s body in 2003, amid plans to prevent a trial by popular jury on murder charges.

The press portal CASO ABIERTO, consulted through Prensa Ibérica, confirmed the Investigation Court No. 21’s January ruling. Pradales’ defense sought to argue that: significant facts could amount to reckless homicide even if the outcome suggested intent to kill was absent.

In the ruling, as outlined by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the events were described as components of a crime culminating in murder. The incident occurred in the early hours of February 23, 2003, likely during an argument at the home shared with his partner Juana Canal Luque in Madrid. A fatal blow to the neck followed by dismemberment led to the body being moved to Ávila, where remains were not discovered for almost a year. The prosecution maintains that the act likely fits the crime of gender-based violence.

A statement from Juana Canal’s family attorney, Juan Manuel Medina, described the development as predictable and correct, adding that there appears to be an attempt to present a softened version of an intolerable crime.

Juani was a music lover, like others in the household. / PHOTOGRAPH BY FAMILY TO AN OPEN CASE

two centuries of silence

He killed her, buried her, and never spoke again. She carried on with daily life, raised a family, and kept quiet. Jesús Pradales, who once ran a hot dog and chips caravan, later worked as a food vendor at fairs. He left his taxi job, the vehicle used to move Juana’s body in 2003, and began a discreet new life.

He later married and started a family. He has not contacted anyone about Juani, his partner for a time, who died in his care after they shared a household in Ciudad Lineal. He kept silent about Juana’s fate, including during the years he was believed to be responsible for her disappearance.

Twenty years later, the Juana Canal case had a breakthrough. / OPEN STATUS

Multiple statements: minimum penalty

Jesús Pradales was arrested on October 26, showing little emotion. He wavered, changed his legal representation, and eventually admitted to striking Juana during a dispute over money, later claiming the death was accidental.

The initial confession, given roughly a day after his arrest, indicated dismemberment but no intent to kill. The family’s lawyer at the time noted that in Spain, dismembering a body is a grave offense with penalties that can be limited to fines or short prison terms, depending on the circumstances. Early statements suggested the crime may have involved more severe charges, including murder, given the context and outcomes.

Under counsel guidance, Pradales retracted the earlier version and offered a revised account: the death occurred accidentally after a confrontation. He described finding the victim on the ground with eyes open and becoming frightened. He recalled dismembering the body, packing the parts into two suitcases, and transporting them to a rural area near Navalacruz, where two graves were dug and the remains concealed.

He then returned home and left a note for Sergio, one of Juani’s sons who lived with them. The note stated that a heated argument had driven Juana to flee, and when he searched, he could not locate her. The family never saw Juana Canal again.

A photo of Juana Canal beside the note her eldest son found upon returning home. / OPEN STATUS

a broken life

Juana, aged 38, had two children from a previous marriage and had started a new chapter in Madrid’s Ciudad Lineal district. She had found work, moved out of her mother’s home, and began building a new life. For twenty years, the family searched for her.

The discovery of her remains occurred in 2019 after hikers located them, though the family was not informed about the find until 28 June 2002. The case remained a source of heartache and unresolved questions until the subsequent investigations shed light on the timeline and events surrounding Juana Canal’s disappearance and death.