Valencia guard authorities sent Miguel VN, a 40-year-old man, to prison without bail after being arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in the murder case. The arrest of the 80-year-old canon emeritus from the Cathedral of Valencia was first reported exclusively by Levante-EMV of the Prensa Ibérica group.
The defendant, a Peruvian national represented by Valencian criminal lawyer Jorge Carbó, was transferred early on Saturday to the City of Justice of Valencia, the headquarters of the city’s guard court, among other facilities. After appearing before Valencia Investigating Judge No. 3, he again chose not to testify.
Miguel VN is accused of murder and another charge of fraud. He is alleged to used the priest’s bank card to withdraw money from multiple ATMs and to make payments with that card.
The person identified as the perpetrator of the priest’s murder – the canon emeritus of the Cathedral of Valencia – reportedly declined to testify last Friday. According to Levante-EMV, this occurred in the presence of agents from the National Police Homicide Squad group. The defendant, held in isolation in a cell at the Zapadores police complex since his arrest at 15:30 on Wednesday, was taken to the Police Headquarters for testimony before the Homicide Squad. His lawyer from the on-call office was present.
After exercising his right not to testify, Miguel VN was returned to the Zapadores cells at the end of procedures and spent the night there before appearing for duty at the court. The man suspected of murdering the priest, with whom he is alleged to have had sexual relations, was transported to the Picassent prison center on Saturday afternoon following the judge on duty’s agreement, based on the Prosecutor’s Office request and a review of the police report.
Those arrested
The detained individual is a 40-year-old man whose involvement with the victim included an alleged sexual relationship. He is also accused of robbery for taking the priest’s mobile phone. In an attempt to delay discovery of the body, he allegedly sent WhatsApp messages impersonating the victim and indicating that he would be away for a few days. The body was found in the priest’s bed on Tuesday morning, unclothed and showing clear signs of strangulation, as reported by Levante-EMV and confirmed by multiple sources.
Defenseless youth
Information gathered by Levante-EMV indicates that the canon emeritus Valencia Cathedral reportedly recruited young people from the streets, many of whom worked in valet parking services in the city center. Details provided by individuals close to the priest and involved in the investigation’s murder group support this portrayal of his access to vulnerable youths.
The priest’s pattern of bringing young boys into his home contributed to tensions beyond personal matters and led to disturbances in several neighborhoods. National and Local Police had to intervene on multiple occasions.
In one incident, occurring a little over two years ago, National Police officers mediated an incident between the priest and a young Romanian man in his early 20s following a loud dispute over the loss of the priest’s mobile phone. The episode underscores concerns about the priest’s interactions with vulnerable youths and the potential risks they faced in his circle.