The events unfold around a family tragedy in the Madrid region, where Rocío Hijano speaks for her family and the quiet pain that followed the violent deaths of Peke and Jessy, her son-in-law and daughter-in-law. The couple, aged 28 and 27, left behind four young children, and the community watched as justice and memory intertwined in a long, arduous process. The mother recounts the impact of the crime and the long road toward accountability, noting that only one suspect faced real consequences while questions about others linger in the air. Eventually a key suspect faced formal legal steps, but the path through the courts remained fraught with delays and conflicting accounts that added to the family’s grief.
The case began with a decision regarding bail for a suspect who had been detained and later released on a modest sum. The release prompted disbelief from Rocío, who questioned how a judge could set someone free if the person appeared to have eluded custody earlier, describing the situation as a profound betrayal of trust in the justice system. The investigation later connected this release to the broader timeline of events that led to the couple’s deaths, and the family continued to press for clarity and accountability.
The bodies of Peke and Jessy were found in a ditch the day after the tragedy, with Lucia, their sister-in-law, among those who survived the initial assault. The principal suspect faced arrest months later, and the ensuing legal process revealed a sequence of alleged coercion, inconsistencies, and redacted statements that complicated early impressions of the case. While awaiting trial, a temporary release occurred at one point, raising further questions about how the justice system handles high-profile crimes and the defendants involved.
Rocío maintains custody of her grandchildren and work with Jessy’s family is part of the ongoing effort to stabilize their lives. In conversations with a public portal that covers ongoing cases, she answers calls and describes how daily life now includes protecting the children from a painful memory, while acknowledging that the past continues to shape the family’s present and future. The narrative is marked by resilience as Rocío moves forward, even as she recognizes that looking back remains an unavoidable aspect of healing.
request: fear
On July 26, 2020, the night was supposed to celebrate a union between two families in El Álamo, a fusion of flamenco, food, and shared history at a restaurant that sat in Navalcarnero. The gathering brought together two clans from nearby towns, with a tense undercurrent that simmered as the evening progressed. A festive mood gave way to unease as conversations grew heated and the celebration became a scene of unrest. What began as a routine social gathering escalated into a violent clash, described by Rocío as a lynching, a stark departure from the evening’s initial joy.
Images from the altercation circulated widely, and the documents reviewed in this report describe a confrontation that grew increasingly aggressive. The early accounts hint at how quickly a celebration can crack under pressure and violence, leaving a community grappling with what happened and why.
camp war
Rocío recalls that nine members of her extended family were directly affected by the events. Four married couples, plus a nephew who was underage, faced a moment where confrontation turned deadly, and the family felt voiceless as phrases like settlement and clan conflict entered local discourse. The tension that night fed a narrative about violence between rival groups, though Rocío emphasizes that the fray involved relatives from the same broader family network, including two cousins of the groom’s father. Mediations by a relative intended to prevent harm did not go as hoped, and insults and threats escalated into stones and other weapons being thrown through the air.
deadly hit
The violence left one brother-in-law unconscious, and the family members attempted to flee. Two cars arrived at the restaurant, but one vehicle was parked far away, and as people tried to escape, they crowded into a seven-seat minibus in a single line, creating a terrifying scene. The chase spread into the surrounding countryside, with some individuals seeking protection in a field. In the chaos, two women, Jessy and Lucia, and others found themselves in danger as the pursuit intensified and a vehicle drove through their path.
An Iranian immigrant, facing an illegal situation, turned himself in at a local barracks after investigators suspected a coerced confession aided by bribery. The Civil Guard learned that a suspect had attempted to influence testimony through tobacco and shelter, complicating the early stages of the investigation. As the group tried to flee, some family members were badly injured, including injuries to the ankles and faces, and a dislocated shoulder marked the injuries of those who managed to escape.
Nine people hid in a field, and six emerged when it was finally safe enough to move. Peke and Jessy did not survive the encounter. Lucia, however, managed to live through the ordeal, enduring severe injuries, while her partner and others faced a long path to recovery. The drama of the night left witnesses shaken and the local community seeking answers about what had transpired.
They are killed if they are not detained
Six members of the Vallecas clan returned to the family home in an effort to locate missing relatives. Rocío contacted the Civil Guard, reporting that three people were missing and urging action to prevent further harm. The authorities surrounded the bar, and the narrative of what happened shifted as new details emerged about who was involved and how the events unfolded. The family waited through the night for news, and by morning the bodies of Jessy and Lucia were found in the field, while Peke’s body was discovered later in the bushes. The injuries they sustained underscored the severity of the violence that night.
Bribery and escape
A key lead in the investigation involved a black BMW that had ties to the case. Witnesses described attempts to silence others through bribery and incentives, with some people offering money in exchange for staying silent or helping to shape the narrative. Four days later, a suspect surfaced in a beer truck while another vehicle was located nearby. The Civil Guard found DNA in the car linked to a main suspect, hinting at the complexity of the chain of custody and the challenge of pinning down direct involvement.
money and charm
The investigation revealed a pattern where self-incrimination and bribes created a confusing web of false confessions during the two-year period that followed the incident. Some individuals were offered money and favorable treatment in exchange for statements that would support the main suspect. A number of people became hesitant when confronted with the possibility that their statements could be used to misdirect the case, and delays complicated the process of establishing a clear chain of evidence. The testimonies of witnesses and the decisions made by those involved contributed to a narrative that the investigators had to parse carefully in order to determine truth from rumor.
Freedom
Investigators by the Civil Guard managed to identify multiple people connected to the vehicle linked to the deadly drive. The main suspect remained in custody, while a younger family member was involved in the vehicle as the investigation moved forward. In the end, a judge weighed the evidence and considered the possibility of conditional release for the suspect, noting the need to balance accountability with the risk of flight. Rocío maintained that the minor had a role in the events and that the legal process should reflect that reality, emphasizing that justice must be served without compromising safety.
Seek justice, not revenge
Through this long and trying ordeal, Rocío continues to advocate for accountability and calm. She maintains faith in the Civil Guard and the investigative process, believing that the justice system exists to protect families and communities like her own. The family’s goal remains the same: to ensure that those responsible are held to account and that the memory of Peke and Jessy is honored, while also acknowledging that healing takes time and patience in the face of a painful past. The family’s story speaks to the broader struggle for justice in cases where violence fractures a community, and the need for truth to guide the path forward [citation: Prensa Ibérica open cases portal].