The National Police acted last Sunday after arresting a 70-year-old man on suspicion of murdering his 90-year-old aunt following a dispute. According to authorities, the elderly woman was killed and her body subsequently set on fire inside a residence in the San Roque neighborhood of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The case has prompted a broader investigation into the events that led to the fatal confrontation and the subsequent attempt to dispose of the remains, as reported by law enforcement and local sources. [Citation: National Police communications]
The incident is believed to have occurred several days before the man was taken into custody, with initial reports indicating that an argument between the aunt and nephew escalated into lethal violence. Investigators are examining whether blows delivered during the altercation were the decisive factor in the woman’s death, and they are exploring any possible motive or personal history that could shed light on the tragedy. Investigators also described the murder scene as having evidence of a deliberate effort to conceal the crime, including the use of a makeshift furnace fashioned from blocks of wood in an improvised cremation setup. [Citation: Canary Islands Judicial Corps]
As the fire raged, thick smoke alerted nearby residents, signaling the emergency to the authorities. The Emergency and Safety Coordination Center 112 was immediately notified, and firefighters along with the National Police were dispatched to the home. Upon arrival, responders confirmed the death of the elderly woman and noted signs consistent with a violent cause of death. Officials stated that the suspect was not present when they first secured the scene but later surrendered at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Southern Police Station, located on Córdoba Street, admitting that the aunt, who lived with him, had died as a result of their confrontation. Law enforcement then proceeded to arrest him on suspicion of murder. [Citation: Local police briefing]
Members of the Police Department’s Murder Bureau arrived at the residence in the San Roque district to initiate a formal inquiry. They are conducting a thorough inquiry to determine how the killing occurred and to identify the sequence of events that culminated in the aunt’s death. Officials are also seeking to understand the suspect’s state of mind and any factors that may have motivated the act, in addition to gathering physical evidence from the scene to reconstruct the timeline. The investigation continues as authorities work to assemble a complete account of the incident and to determine whether there were any prior warning signs or related incidents that could inform preventative measures in the future. [Citation: Criminal investigations bureau]