The director of the National Institute of Toxicology, Anthony Alonso, addressed a judge examining the death of the actor’s aunt, Maria Isabel Suarez. He suggested that poisoning may not be the cause, noting that high concentrations of heavy metals detected in the body could result from a postmortem redistribution. This interpretation adds a new layer to the ongoing investigation.
In Madrid, the magistrate continues to scrutinize the death of Maria Isabel Suarez while her niece, Arancha Suárez, and Arancha’s husband remain under investigation in connection with actor Luis Lorenzo. The director of the National Institute of Toxicology provided a statement through another senior official in the organization, along with two neurologists and the heads of a legal division, according to court sources. This information was obtained by Efe through trusted legal channels.
As Alonso previously conveyed in a June interview, the 85-year-old woman did not die from ingestion of cadmium or manganese poisoning. The autopsy results indicated a natural or non-foreign cause of death, leading to renewed discussion about the exact etiology and the role of toxic substances in the final process of life.
There are international studies, including those from the United States, that describe how heavy metals found in a decedent’s blood can reflect postmortem redistribution. In other words, metals may move from deteriorating organs into the bloodstream after death, which can complicate cause-of-death determinations. This nuance is part of the ongoing evaluation by experts.
When questioned by legal representatives, the director noted that if poisoning had occurred, blood cadmium and manganese levels would typically show a similar concentration pattern, a point that could support or challenge the prevailing autopsy conclusions depending on the context.
Another executive from the National Institute of Toxicology reported that he traveled to Asturias to discuss the case with the forensic specialist who performed the autopsy. This occurred after his superior’s June remarks, which had pointed to a possible toxic influence. Sources indicate that a formal extension was later granted, a step the court had not initially anticipated.
The statements from the toxicology director align with those made by the head of the Chemical Service in Madrid at the end of June. It remains possible that the victim died from natural causes, although this possibility has not been definitively ruled out.
However, the attending physician did not contradict the autopsy results, preserving the complexity of the case and the need for careful interpretation of the available evidence.
This Thursday, two neurologists from the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid testified before the trial judge. They described the elderly woman as suffering from a rapidly progressive form of dementia and said she received appropriate medication as her condition evolved. Their accounts suggest that her decline, initially marked by autonomy and independence, progressed within a relatively short time to a state where she could no longer manage daily tasks.
The bank branch manager who handled Maria Isabel’s account also testified, indicating that Luis Lorenzo presented himself as a lawyer in order to withdraw funds. He did not succeed, as he knew that Maria Isabel was capable of authorizing or blocking transactions, depending on the circumstances. The bank account episode adds another dimension to the financial aspects already under scrutiny in the case.
Maria Isabel Suárez passed away on 28 June 2021 at the home shared by Luis Lorenzo and his partner Arancha Suárez in Rivas-Vaciamadrid. The family later transported the body to Asturias for burial, and the death was reported to the Civil Guard, prompting an autopsy investigation. The authorities have been closely reviewing the circumstances surrounding the death ever since, including any possible influence on the estate and succession matters involved.
Since that time, prosecutors and the Guardia Civil have maintained a near-year-long inquiry into Luis Lorenzo and Arancha Suárez, exploring the possibility that the death was linked to efforts to preserve a family legacy. The investigation is also examining the role of the caretaker who was with the elderly woman in her final months, assessing whether any actions may have affected her health or the circumstances of her passing.
Alongside the couple, the judge has also scrutinized the caretaker who attended to Maria Isabel in the last stages of her life, seeking to understand whether there were any lapses in care or potential coercive actions that could have influenced the outcome. The case remains under careful review as the legal process advances and new testimonies are considered.