Two individuals were detained in Jabugo, in Huelva, by the Guardia Civil on charges of intentional homicide. The suspects allegedly allowed the mother of one of them, a 58-year-old woman with multiple disabilities and several medical conditions, to die after neglecting her and keeping her locked in a room.
The Judicial Police from Aracena, also in Huelva, received information about the troubling conditions in which a person had been kept in a deteriorating health state, showing clear signs of neglect, severe malnutrition, and dehydration. This information was confirmed by a Guardia Civil press release, which outlined the grave circumstances surrounding the case.
During the inquiry, investigators found that those sharing the home with the deceased had reportedly deprived her of essential basic care, including medical attention, nutrition, and social support. The deceased had a disability assessed at 33 percent and suffered from multiple medical conditions that left her dependent and requiring special care throughout her day-to-day life.
The investigators noted that she was confined to a room within the residence, secured by a padlock on the door, isolated from others, with no access to food, water, or the household’s sanitation facilities. The kitchen had also been locked with the same method to prevent free access.
Authorities further reported that access to the home by medical professionals who visited the deceased, as well as by the social care technician assigned to her degree of dependence, was hindered or obstructed. Witnesses described intimidation and verbal abuse used against those who attempted to provide care or support.
Family members other than the alleged perpetrators were reportedly prevented from reaching or contacting the deceased, with the suspects taking exclusive responsibility for her care and managing her pension for personal gain.
The woman, aged 58, died on December 31, 2023, in a hospital in the province of Huelva. Her health had deteriorated to a deplorable state, showing signs of neglect, severe undernourishment, dehydration, stiff joints, and poor personal hygiene at the time of her passing.
Following the accumulation of sufficient indicators, the review of medical documentation, and statements gathered from family, healthcare, and social support networks, two suspects were detained on charges of deliberate homicide through omission and for illegal detention, according to the authorities’ findings and ongoing investigations.