Four people have been detained in connection with the murder of a man whose dismembered and partially charred remains were found last June near the Turia riverbed, still emitting smoke. The discovery occurred in the Valencia area, close to the residence of the principal suspect, and investigators say the conditions of the case are still under examination. The individuals are currently held in police cells and are not expected to be released before judicial action is taken tomorrow, Friday.
National Police sources identified the prime suspect as a 51-year-old Hispanic man who allegedly orchestrated the crime and coerced his emotional partner, a 52-year-old woman, along with the partner’s 23-year-old boyfriend—who is also the detainee’s daughter’s partner—into involvement. Reportedly, the suspects were confined at the home in Valencia and warned against leaving, with authorities aiming to prevent further waste of the crime scene. (Source: National Police)
The police intervention followed a decision issued on Tuesday afternoon to bring the primary suspect before officers, amid allegations of coercion and involvement in the homicide. The investigation has shown initial cooperation from the National Police, which led to the first arrest at the suspect’s apartment in Valencia after investigators informed him of the murder charges. The body of the victim, a middle-aged Spanish man, had not been publicly reported to authorities before the inquiry began. (Source: National Police)
From that moment, homicide investigators from the armed forces and the Civil Guard, though part of the same overarching effort, were led by the National Police until disposition of the preliminary steps. The authorities announced the arrest of the four suspects, including a fourth individual, a young woman linked to the case, who is alleged to have become involved in the crime. The investigations continue to determine the precise role of each detainee as the proceedings advance. (Source: Valencia Command, Homicide Desk)
According to the timeline established by investigators, the events unfolded toward the end of June in the apartment believed to be occupied by the principal suspect and his partner. Early findings indicate that the victim died after suffering a severe blow to the head. The investigation then contends that the suspect moved to dismember the body and place the remains into bags. On the night of June 28, he allegedly transported the bags in the trunk of his car to a site known as Gestalgar, near Peña Maria, about 600 meters from the city center. There, the remains were allegedly abandoned by a riverbank, covered with wood and other debris, and later set on fire to complete the disposal. The current belief is that the fire was intended to destroy evidence further, with fuel used to ensure complete combustion. (Source: Police records)
Several detainees are connected to towns around the Turia area, including Camp de Turia and Gestalgar, which aligns with local knowledge of the riverbank area that is popular with residents and weekend visitors alike. This geographic detail is being used to corroborate the suspects’ possible familiarity with the site where the crime material was found. (Source: Local authorities)
A neighbor who was walking a dog observed the still-warm embers of a campfire and noticed bones and other human remains beneath the ashes. The observer alerted Civil Guards, who then recorded the scene and launched the formal investigation. The neighbor’s account has been cited by media reporting and is part of the ongoing assessment of the crime’s sequence and the actors involved. (Source: Local witness statements)