Investigators with Mossos d’Esquadra are examining the murder of a farmer in Vilanova de la Barca, Lleida, while also assessing whether this incident connects to two other killings carried out by agricultural workers in Navarre towns. The focus is on Tudela and Ribaforada, where authorities note striking similarities among the crimes.
Two murders of farmers in Navarre, both occurring in the months leading up to this year, are being reviewed alongside the Lleida case. The most recent incident in the chain took place on January 5 in Vilanova de la Barca, close to where the farmer was killed in Lleida, triggering renewed attention on a potential common perpetrator.
Sources close to the investigation told EFE that the possibility of a single suspect behind all three crimes cannot be ruled out, though investigators emphasize that every line of inquiry remains open and unconfirmed.
What strengthens the theory of a linked set of crimes is the discovery of a stolen Opel Astra, traced back to the Ribaforada farmer, found a short distance from Vilanova de la Barca. This connection pinpoints the geographic chain linking the cases and provides a tangible lead for the authorities to pursue as they piece together if a single individual may have been responsible for the three brutal acts.
In the wake of these killings, which unfolded over a short span and across two autonomous communities, the Mossos d’Esquadra, the National Police, and the Civil Guard have coordinated efforts to investigate the matters. The investigations have focused on violent crimes committed in rural settings, where the victims were elderly farmers working alone in fields away from urban centers, making the pattern distinct and warranting careful cross-regional analysis.
The first crime occurred on November 22 in Tudela, the second on December 21 in Ribaforada, and the third and final murder was recorded on January 5 in Vilanova de la Barca, illustrating a rapid sequence of events that has authorities reviewing whether this may be the work of one assailant or a series of related acts with common motives and methods.